Christopher Woodard Named Men’s Swimming Associate Head Coach

RALEIGH, North Carolina, September 5. NC State head swimming and diving coach Brooks Teal announced on Friday, Sept. 5 that Christopher ‘Woody' Woodard has been elevated to associate head coach for men's swimming. Woodard, who has been serving as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs since 2005-06, will continue in his same position on the women's end. The 2008-09 campaign will mark his fourth year with the Wolfpack.

"Woody brings so many things to our program," said Coach Teal. "He has great enthusiasm and expertise, and he is a proven recruiter. This is a way of recognizing his great contribution to the men's program."

"I'm honored to continue my career here at NC State," said Woodard. "We have a nice stable of talent in this program, and I'm looking forward to working alongside the rest of the coaching staff as we continue to build upon the outstanding tradition that we have here."

Woodard came to NC State from Colorado State University where he served as an assistant coach since July 2000. While there, Woodard worked with all the swimmers, concentrating primarily on the breaststroke and IM participants. At Colorado State, Woodard developed NCAA qualifiers, as well as several Senior National and Olympic trial qualifiers. Woodard was also an assistant coach on the water polo team, which started in January of 2004, and prior to being named an assistant swimming coach he was a volunteer assistant at CSU from August 1998-May 2000.

He also assisted in training Amy Van Dyken for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and served as paralympic world record holder Erin Popovich's coach.

Prior to coaching at Colorado State, Woodard was the head coach of Shawmut Aquatic Club in Boston, Mass. He received the prestigious Wayne Trombini Award for excellence and dedication in swimming. His first job out of college was as an assistant coach at his alma mater Hartwick.

Woodard swam at Hartwick College during his college career, where he was a four-year all-conference team member and a part of back-to-back state championships teams. He was team captain as a senior and Co-MVP for the 1991-92 seasons, held top-five times in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke and was a conference finalist six times. He was also named to the all-state academic team three years in a row.

The Buffalo, N.Y., native graduated magna cum laude from Hartwick in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in history, later earning his master's in history from Colorado State in 2001. Woodard is married to the former Holly Podell, and is the proud father of newborn son Gabriel.

Special thanks to NC State for contributing this report.

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