Warren B. Woodson
Encyclopedia
Warren Brooks Woodson was an American football
and basketball
coach. He served as the head football coach at Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas
, (1935–1940), Hardin–Simmons University (1941–1951), the University of Arizona
(1952–1956), New Mexico State University
(1958–1967), and Trinity University
in San Antonio, Texas
(1972–1973), compiling a career college football
record of 203–95–14 in 31 seasons. He was also the head basketball coach at Arkansas State Teachers from 1935 to 1941 and at Hardin–Simmons in 1945–46, tallying a career college basketball
mark of 116–50. Woodson won an additional 52 football games at junior college level and 18 high school football
games. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1989.
in 1924, majoring in Bible and history, and a degree from Springfield College
in 1926, majoring in physical education. He coached four sports at Texarkana College
from 1927 to 1934 and, in three of the same years also coached three sports at a nearby high school.
He then moved on to Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas
) in Conway from 1935 to 1940. In his second year, his team had a perfect 8–0 season. Won 2000 Elijah Pitts Award (named after the Conway, Arkansas, native and Green Bay Packer legend) for Conway athletic lifetime achievement.
Woodson accepted the head coaching job at Hardin–Simmons University in 1941, where his 1942 team went 8–0–1. During World War II
, Woodson served for three years as a lieutenant commander
in the United States Navy
. The Hardin-Simmons football program was canceled from 1943 to 1945. After Woodson returned, his 1946 team went unbeaten with a 11–0 record. His 1948 team was in three bowls: the Grape Bowl on December 4, a 35–35 tie with College of the Pacific; the Shrine Bowl
December 18, a 40–12 victory over Ouachita Baptist
; and Camellia Bowl
December 30, a 49–12 victory over Wichita.
Woodson coached at the University of Arizona
from 1952 to 1956 and at New Mexico State University
from 1958 to 1967. His 1960 team went 11–0. He was head coach at Trinity University
in San Antonio, Texas
from 1972 to 1973 and later was consultant at New Mexico Highlands.
Woodson coached players who won the national rushing title nine times:
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. He served as the head football coach at Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
, (1935–1940), Hardin–Simmons University (1941–1951), the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
(1952–1956), New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
(1958–1967), and Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
(1972–1973), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 203–95–14 in 31 seasons. He was also the head basketball coach at Arkansas State Teachers from 1935 to 1941 and at Hardin–Simmons in 1945–46, tallying a career college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
mark of 116–50. Woodson won an additional 52 football games at junior college level and 18 high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
games. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1989.
Education and coaching career
Woodson received a degree from Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in 1924, majoring in Bible and history, and a degree from Springfield College
Springfield College
Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented...
in 1926, majoring in physical education. He coached four sports at Texarkana College
Texarkana College
Texarkana College is a community college located in Texarkana, Texas.-Location:Texarkana College is located at , in the northeast border of Texarkana, Texas, at the junction of Robison and Tucker streets, which is approximately one mile south of Interstate 30.The twin cities of Texarkana,...
from 1927 to 1934 and, in three of the same years also coached three sports at a nearby high school.
He then moved on to Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
) in Conway from 1935 to 1940. In his second year, his team had a perfect 8–0 season. Won 2000 Elijah Pitts Award (named after the Conway, Arkansas, native and Green Bay Packer legend) for Conway athletic lifetime achievement.
Woodson accepted the head coaching job at Hardin–Simmons University in 1941, where his 1942 team went 8–0–1. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Woodson served for three years as a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. The Hardin-Simmons football program was canceled from 1943 to 1945. After Woodson returned, his 1946 team went unbeaten with a 11–0 record. His 1948 team was in three bowls: the Grape Bowl on December 4, a 35–35 tie with College of the Pacific; the Shrine Bowl
Shrine Bowl
The Shrine Bowl was a former postseason college football bowl game. The first game was played on December 18, 1948, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas between Hardin-Simmons University and Ouachita Baptist College....
December 18, a 40–12 victory over Ouachita Baptist
Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University is a private, liberal arts, undergraduate institution located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, which is about 65 miles southwest of Little Rock. The university's name is taken from the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern campus boundary. It is affiliated with the Arkansas...
; and Camellia Bowl
Camellia Bowl
- 1948, Lafayette, Louisiana :The Camellia Bowl was a post-season major college football bowl game played at McNaspy Stadium in Lafayette, Louisiana, on December 30, 1948 between Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Wichita ....
December 30, a 49–12 victory over Wichita.
Woodson coached at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
from 1952 to 1956 and at New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
from 1958 to 1967. His 1960 team went 11–0. He was head coach at Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
from 1972 to 1973 and later was consultant at New Mexico Highlands.
Woodson coached players who won the national rushing title nine times:
- Rudolph Mobley, Hardin–Simmons (1942, 1946)
- Wilton Davis, Hardin–Simmons (1947)
- Art Luppino, Arizona (1954, 1955)
- Pervis AtkinsPervis AtkinsPervis R. Atkins, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at New Mexico State University, where he was a halfback, flanker, and placekicker. In 1959 he became the first of four straight New Mexico State University players to lead the nation in rushing yardage with...
, New Mexico State (1959) - Bob GaitersBob GaitersRobert James Gaiters is an American former National Football League player. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 1961 American Football League Draft and by the New York Giants in the 1961 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Giants and San Francisco 49ers...
, New Mexico (State 1960) - Jim Pilot, New Mexico State (1961, 1962)