Football
Woods, Sparky
Sparky Woods
- Title:
- Senior Advisor to the Head Coach
- Phone:
- 919-966-2575
Sparky Woods, a 40-year veteran in coaching with over a decade worth of head-coaching experience, was hired by Mack Brown on Jan. 10, 2019 to serve as Senior Advisor to the Head Coach. Prior to coming to Chapel Hill, Woods coached running backs and was the co-special teams coordinator at Richmond.
During his four seasons in Richmond (2015-18), one of which ended in the FCS Semifinals, Woods mentored Deontez Thompson, who became the first freshman in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards, earning Freshman All-America accolades. Thompson was just the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000-plus yards rushing, while also piling up nearly 500 yards receiving. Woods also guided Jacobi Green, who earned All-America and All-CAA accolades after gaining over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns, two of the best single-season marks in program history. Woods also served as Richmond’s recruiting coordinator in 2015 and 2016, helping the Spiders to back-to-back high-profile recruiting classes.
Prior to Richmond, Woods spent seven seasons as the head coach at VMI (2008-14) and four years coaching running backs at Alabama (2003-06). While in Tuscaloosa, Woods coached Tide running back Kenneth Darby to two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and Shaud Williams, who led the SEC in rushing yardage in 2003 and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker award. The Tide led the SEC in rushing for three consecutive seasons (2003-05).
Before his time in Tuscaloosa, Woods served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Memphis (1995-96), Virginia (1997-98), and Mississippi State (1999-02). In 1994, he was part of the New York Jets staff as an offensive assistant.
Woods’ first head coaching experience began in 1984 when he turned Appalachian State into a I-AA power, guiding the Mountaineers to a 38-19-2 mark, two Southern Conference titles and two I-AA playoff appearances over his five seasons (1984-88). The Southern Conference tabbed Woods as Coach of the Year three consecutive times (1985-87) and he was also named Kodak Region II Coach of the Year in 1986.
After his time at Appalachian State, Woods took over at South Carolina, guiding them to back-to-back six wins seasons to start his five-year tenure in Columbia (1989-93).
Woods is a 1976 graduate of Carson-Newman, where he played quarterback and defensive back. He began his coaching career at Tennessee later that year. In 1977, he moved to Kansas before serving one year as defensive backs coach at North Alabama in 1978. From 1979-82, he coached at Iowa State, handling the receivers, before joining Appalachian State in 1983 as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and running backs coach under Mack Brown. One year later, Woods was named head coach at Appalachian State.
Woods and his wife, Jean Ann, have two children, a daughter, Emily, and a son, Casey who is on the UAB football staff. Casey and his wife Lauren have two children, Waverly and Sawyer.
The Woods File
Personal
Birthdate: Dec. 20, 1953
Hometown: Oneida, Tenn.
Wife: Jean Ann
Children: daughter, Emily, son Casey, and daughter-in-law, Lauren
Grandchildren: Waverly and Sawyer
Education
College: Carson-Newman ‘76
During his four seasons in Richmond (2015-18), one of which ended in the FCS Semifinals, Woods mentored Deontez Thompson, who became the first freshman in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards, earning Freshman All-America accolades. Thompson was just the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000-plus yards rushing, while also piling up nearly 500 yards receiving. Woods also guided Jacobi Green, who earned All-America and All-CAA accolades after gaining over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns, two of the best single-season marks in program history. Woods also served as Richmond’s recruiting coordinator in 2015 and 2016, helping the Spiders to back-to-back high-profile recruiting classes.
Prior to Richmond, Woods spent seven seasons as the head coach at VMI (2008-14) and four years coaching running backs at Alabama (2003-06). While in Tuscaloosa, Woods coached Tide running back Kenneth Darby to two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and Shaud Williams, who led the SEC in rushing yardage in 2003 and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker award. The Tide led the SEC in rushing for three consecutive seasons (2003-05).
Before his time in Tuscaloosa, Woods served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Memphis (1995-96), Virginia (1997-98), and Mississippi State (1999-02). In 1994, he was part of the New York Jets staff as an offensive assistant.
Woods’ first head coaching experience began in 1984 when he turned Appalachian State into a I-AA power, guiding the Mountaineers to a 38-19-2 mark, two Southern Conference titles and two I-AA playoff appearances over his five seasons (1984-88). The Southern Conference tabbed Woods as Coach of the Year three consecutive times (1985-87) and he was also named Kodak Region II Coach of the Year in 1986.
After his time at Appalachian State, Woods took over at South Carolina, guiding them to back-to-back six wins seasons to start his five-year tenure in Columbia (1989-93).
Woods is a 1976 graduate of Carson-Newman, where he played quarterback and defensive back. He began his coaching career at Tennessee later that year. In 1977, he moved to Kansas before serving one year as defensive backs coach at North Alabama in 1978. From 1979-82, he coached at Iowa State, handling the receivers, before joining Appalachian State in 1983 as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and running backs coach under Mack Brown. One year later, Woods was named head coach at Appalachian State.
Woods and his wife, Jean Ann, have two children, a daughter, Emily, and a son, Casey who is on the UAB football staff. Casey and his wife Lauren have two children, Waverly and Sawyer.
The Woods File
Personal
Birthdate: Dec. 20, 1953
Hometown: Oneida, Tenn.
Wife: Jean Ann
Children: daughter, Emily, son Casey, and daughter-in-law, Lauren
Grandchildren: Waverly and Sawyer
Education
College: Carson-Newman ‘76
Woods Coaching History
| Years | School | Title |
| 2019- | North Carolina | Senior Advisor to the Head Coach |
| 2017-18 | Richmond | Running Backs |
| 2015-16 | Richmond | Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2008-14 | VMI | Head Coach |
| 2003-06 | Alabama | Running Backs |
| 1999-2002 | Mississippi State | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 1997-98 | Virginia | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 1995-96 | Memphis | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 1994 | New York Jets | Offensive Assistant |
| 1989-93 | South Carolina | Head Coach |
| 1984-88 | Appalachian State | Head Coach |
| 1983 | Appalachian State | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Running Backs |
| 1979-82 | Iowa State | Receivers |
| 1978 | North Alabama | Defensive Backs |
| 1977 | Kansas | |
| 1976 | Tennessee |
Postseason Experience As a Coach
| Years | School | Bowl |
| 2021 | North Carolina | Duke's Mayo Bowl |
| 2020 | North Carolina | Orange Bowl |
| 2019 | North Carolina | Military Bowl |
| 2006 | Alabama | Cotton Bowl |
| 2004 | Alabama | Music City Bowl |
| 2000 | Mississippi State | Independence Bowl |
| 1999 | Mississippi State | Peach Bowl |
| 1998 | Virginia | Peach Bowl |
| 1987 | Appalachian State | I-AA Semifinals |
| 1986 | Appalachian State | I-AA First Round |
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