KIRKSVILLE - - Truman State University Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering has announced the hiring of Matt Woodley as the Head Men's Basketball Coach. Woodley is the 11th head coach in the program's history and comes to Truman following nine years of Division I coaching experience and two seasons at Waukee (Iowa) High School.
"We are thrilled that Matt has accepted the position to lead our men's basketball program," Wollmering said. "His outstanding experience and enthusiasm will bring high expectations both on the court and in the classroom."
Woodley graduated with a degree in elementary education from Drake (Iowa) University in 2000, having played three seasons for the Bulldogs. He was a starter in every game played and ended his career as the program's all-time leader in steals and second in three-pointers. He twice earned honorable mention honors from the Missouri Valley Conference and was the team MVP his senior season.
He then served as a graduate assistant at Wayne (Neb.) State for one season before becoming an assistant coach at the University of Denver in 2001. There, he assisted with all aspects of the team, including recruiting, scouting, scheduling and on-floor practices. He played a key role in recruiting the 2005 Sun Belt Player of the Year, Yemi Nicholson, as well as two other all-Sun Belt selections from the 2004-2005 season.
The Des Moines, Iowa, native spent three seasons at Denver before joining head coach Kermit Davis' staff at Middle Tennessee State as an assistant coach. Woodley's responsibilities included recruiting, scouting, scheduling and film exchange, as well as the daily preparations for the team. He helped land future all-Sun Belt honorees Desmond Yates (first-team, 2008), Kevin Kanaskie and Adam Vogelsberg. The 2005 recruiting class was ranked 20th overall by national publications.
At both DU and MTSU, Woodley supervised the men's basketball academic programs, landing a combined 14 players on Sun Belt Conference all-academic teams.
Woodley then spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Washington State University for head coach Tony Bennett from 2006-09. During his stint at the school, the Cougars advanced to three consecutive postseason appearances, including the NCAA "Sweet 16" in 2008. He served as the program's recruiting coordinator, once again landing a top-20 recruiting class. On the court, he helped the program post back-to-back 25-win seasons and NCAA tournament appearances for the first time in school history.
With family roots in the state of Iowa, Woodley returned home to take the reins of the Waukee High School boys' basketball program in 2009. In the past two seasons, the school won its first ever CIML conference championship, earning a trip to the Iowa state tournament this year.
"Matt Woodley is a great hire for Truman State University," said University President Troy Paino. "I believe his success as a student-athlete and coach as well as his personal achievements make him a great fit for our institution. We are excited to welcome Matt and his wife, Jennifer, to the Truman and Kirksville communities.”
Woodley comes from a coaching lineage, as his father and three brothers currently hold coaching positions at various levels. His father, Mike, is the head football coach at Grandview (Iowa) University, while his brother, Joe, serves as the team's defensive coordinator. His brother, Brian, is the head football coach at Johnston (Iowa) High School, while his brother Andy, who was a starting point guard at the University of Northern Iowa, won a state championship as the head boys' basketball coach at Iowa City High School.
"I'm honored and humbled to be the next head basketball coach at Truman State University," Woodley said. "I believe in the direction of Dr. Paino and Jerry Wollmering, and together, we can make this University's basketball team a winning program both on and off the floor."
The Truman Department of Athletics will hold a press conference on Friday at 11:00 a.m. to introduce Woodley to the campus community. The location of the press conference will be announced later this week.
What others are saying about Matt Woodley
"Congratulations Truman. You hired a winner. Matt Woodley is an outstanding hire. He not only has competed and coached at the highest level but he possesses the high character that a school would want with someone leading your basketball program. Matt is as competitive and as hard working as anyone I've ever been around and there is no doubt, he will be highly successful. His teams will be well coached, well prepared and play very hard."
- Greg Lansing, Head Basketball Coach Indiana State University
"I've known Matt since he was in high school and the passion he had as a player has definitely carried over to his career in coaching. His tireless work ethic and ability to relate to the people he works with will make him a perfect fit at Truman. He will hit the ground running and will soon build a program that will compete for championships."
-Greg McDermott, Head Basketball Coach Creighton University
"Matt is the complete package, he is a fantastic recruiter, has a great basketball mind and is a tireless worker. The community of Kirksville will fall in love with him. Truman has hit a homerun with the hiring of Matt Woodley."
- Donnie Tyndall - Head Basketball Coach Morehead State University
"Matt is a young, up and coming coach that has proven to be a good
recruiter with a very good basketball mind. He thrives on competition and relates well with players. Truman should be excited about the future of their men's basketball program."
- Tony Bennett - Head Basketball Coach University of Virginia
"I have known Matt since he was a player at Drake University and couldn't be more happy for him. He is very deserving of this opportunity and I know his passion and energy for the sport of basketball will be contagious throughout the Truman State University program. I am confident his team will be unselfish and play very hard for him, as I have seen all players he has coached do throughout the years."
- Dana Altman, Head Basketball Coach, University of Oregon
"As an assistant coach in the Pac-10 I had the opportunity to get to know and compete with Matt. He is truly an outstanding recruiter, teacher, coach and communicator. Matt will represent Truman in a first class manner that will bring pride to the faculty, staff, fans, alumni and everyone in the University community. His competitive fire, vast experience and winning track record will provide an immediate impact as he leads the basketball program at Truman."
- Mark Phelps, Head Basketball Coach Drake University
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Truman State University, founded in 1867, is located in Kirksville, Mo., and is Missouri's only highly selective public liberal arts and sciences university. Truman has the highest graduation rate among all Missouri public institutions with more than 50 percent of its graduates pursuing an advanced degree immediately upon commencement. Truman has been recognized as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" with 14 consecutive years.
The Truman Department of Athletics is a proud member of the NCAA Division II and is a charter member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). Truman sponsors 21 intercollegiate sports, the most of any state school in Missouri.
