Brian Woods joined Charlie Inverso’s staff prior to the 2022 season following a 30-year tenure as Head Coach at William Paterson University, where he also served for 11 years as men’s golf head coach and founded the women’s soccer program at the school as a club sport in 1993, before guiding it through its first three years in 1994-96. He finished his head coaching career with 246 wins.
He led the Pioneers to the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, the 2008 ECAC Metro Tournament championship, and an ECAC Metro Tournament runner-up finish in 2013. In all, WP competed in 10 NJAC Tournaments and nine ECAC Tournaments under his watch.
Under Woods' tutelage, one Pioneer was named an all-American, 19 were all-region selections and 63 were members of the All-NJAC Team. Julian Valerio was a 2010 first-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) all-American and the NJAC Pat Baldiserra Midfielder of the Year, while Chris Belan earned NJAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He also mentored 2009 NJAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Joe Strawman, 2011 NJAC Midfielder of the Year Anthony Ferrer, and 2013 and 2014 ECAC Metro Region and NJAC Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Hackett.
While he coached the men's team, Woods also was simultaneously coaching the fledgling women's soccer program, compiling a 36-17-2 record from 1994-96 before his brother, Keith, took over the reins in 1997. For his efforts, Brian was named the 1995 NJAC Coach of the Year, and during those three seasons he mentored 1996 NJAC Rookie of the Year Meghan Renna, one all-region honoree and 11 all-conference picks.
After a lengthy period of not sponsoring the sport, William Paterson re-started its men's golf program with a club team that Woods coached during the spring of 2010. He ended up leading the Pioneers to an impressive 27-7-1 dual-match mark in 11 seasons of NCAA competition. In the spring of 2014, senior Frank Herudek finished among the top five individuals at the championship tournament to secure a spot on the All-Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) First Team, while junior Jack Maloney was a second-team all-league pick after placing seventh at the 2021 Atlantic East Conference Championship.
Woods was a four-time all-NJAC selection at Trenton State, where he also played football, before graduating with a bachelor's degree in corporate fitness. He coached at his alma mater until 1992, when he took over the men's soccer program at William Paterson.
Woods' Men's Soccer Highlights
- 246-249-57 record during 30 seasons overall; 35th among active Division III coaches in victories (1992-2021)
- One NCAA Tournament bid
- One ECAC Metro Region Tournament title
- Nine ECAC Tournament berths
- Ten NJAC Tournament appearances
- Three 14-win seasons (school record)
- One NJAC Coach of the Year award
- One all-American
- Nineteen National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) all-region selections
- Eight NJAC specialty awards (four Defensive Players of the Year, two Midfielders of the Year, two Rookies of the Year)
- Sixty-three all-NJAC honorees
- Three players inducted into the WP Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame
Woods' Women's Soccer Highlights
- Founded the program as a club team in 1993
- 36-17-2 record during three seasons (1994-96)
- One NJAC Coach of the Year award
- One National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) all-region selection
- One NJAC Rookie of the Year award
- Eleven all-NJAC honorees
- Four players inducted into the WP Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame
Woods' Men's Golf Highlights
- Coached the club team in the spring of 2010 when WP reinstated the program after an extended hiatus
- 27-7-1 dual-match record during 11 seasons (2010-21)
- Two all-conference selections
