Jason Woodman, who has a pedigree of success at every institution he has been at, has been named head football coach at Morehead State. Woodman is the 15th head coach in program history. He began his tenure for the spring 2024 and fall 2024 seasons.

Woodman, a native of Fairmont, W.Va., served as head coach at Fairmont State in his hometown since 2013. He guided the Fighting Falcons to 60 wins and five winning seasons, including three consecutive 8-plus win seasons for the first time in program history.

Woodman's coaching connections also include positions at LSU and Florida State, where he worked for high-profile mentors Nick Saban and Les Miles as well as Jimbo Fisher and the late Bobby Bowden.

During his tenure at Fairmont, Woodman led his program to a 10-1 record in 2016, setting the school mark for wins. The team was also 8-3 in 2017 and 2023 and 9-2 in 2018.

He has helped produce 12 All-Americans and 112 All-Mountain East Conference players. During his leadership, Fairmont boasted the 2016 MEC Defensive Player of the Year and 2016 MEC Offensive Freshman of the Year as well as the 2021 conference Offensive and Defensive Freshmen of the Year performers.

As offensive coordinator and quarterbacks' mentor, Woodman helped Takwan Crews-Naylor lead all of Division II in passing efficiency in 2019. He guided Cooper Hibbs to rank second in Fairmont history in career passing yards, touchdown passes and completions and rank first in single-season passing yards, completions and completion percentage. Wide receiver Fabian Guerra set the career receptions mark, while Laurence King set the single-season record for receptions.

Defensively, the Falcons led the MEC in total defense for two seasons while ranking first in the league in turnover margin four consecutive seasons from 2015-18. The Falcons consistently ranked in the top 20 in DII in several categories, including interceptions, total defense, rushing defense, turnovers gained, scoring defense and defensive touchdowns.

Following his first foray into coaching at North Marion High School in West Virginia from 1999-03 (his high school alma mater), Woodman served a variety of roles at Louisiana State. He was a graduate assistant in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, he helped offensive line coach Stacy Searels and assisted the Tigers in winning the Peach Bowl and going 11-2 with a No. 5 finish in the Associated Press poll. In 2006, Woodman assisted with the quarterbacks and passing game, working with No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Jamarcus Russell. LSU finished No. 3 and won the Sugar Bowl.

Woodman moved on to Florida State, serving as a graduate assistant with the quarterbacks, in 2007. He worked directly with Jimbo Fisher. The Seminoles finished with seven wins and played Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

Woodman's first full-time collegiate coaching position came in 2008 when he led the running backs at California (Pa.). He helped California win the PSAC title and finish as a national semifinalist. Woodman coached a 1,000-yard rusher that season.

In 2009 and 2010, served as wide receivers and quarterbacks coach at Concord (W.Va.) as well as coordinating the special teams and passing game. Concord ranked in the top 10 in the nation both
seasons in total offense. He coached Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II's top player) finalist Thomas Mayo in 2009, who led the nation in receiving yards per game. The Concord special teams' units also ranked in the top 12 in the nation in net punting both seasons.

Prior to moving back to Fairmont State, Woodman was the offensive coordinator at Bowie State (Md.) during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The Bulldogs ranked second in program history for total yards gained in a season. He coached future NFL tight end Khari Lee.

Woodman earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and health education from Fairmont State. He and his wife Kari have four children – daughter Kinleigh and sons Taner, Knox and Brodi.

 
What They Are Saying About Jason Woodman
 
"Jason is one of the great young and intelligent coaches coming up. He brings great energy, enthusiasm, and passion for the game."
- Jimbo Fisher, Former Head Coach, Texas A&M
 
"Jason leads his program with the same passion and energy that he possessed as a young coach. He's a very quality coach, husband, and father."
- Les Miles, Former Head Coach, LSU and Kansas
 
"Woody is a great football mind who demands the best out of everyone around him on a daily basis. He has done a great job at every place he's been."
- Todd Monken, Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens
 
"I worked with Coach Woodman, a.k.a. Woody, at LSU. He was a bright young coach who really brought energy to the office every day. He had great ideas and was a great offensive mind, and I think that's why he's had success as a head coach."
- Stacy Searels, Offensive Line Coach, Georgia