Former UTEP assistant named Redell replacement at OCHS

Jeff Woodruff ‘excited’ to be coach of winning football program



Jeff Woodruff

Jeff Woodruff

Jeff Woodruff’s first day at the office as Oaks Christian’s varsity football head coach was Monday.

His first day on the field guiding the Lion players will be Mon., May 14, the first day of spring practice.

“I’m excited to get out for spring practice and to see what we have to work with,” Woodruff said.

“I’ve heard about a few kids and seen a few clips on You- Tube. I can’t wait to see what kind of speed and ability we have. . . . I can’t wait to get to know the kids. That’s what this is all about.”

Woodruff joins Oaks Christian after a stretch as assistant head coach at the University of Texas at El Paso.

In his 30-year coaching career, Woodruff was head coach at Eastern Michigan from 2000- 03. He also spent 13 seasons on staff at Washington and two years at Arizona. From 1996-97, he was head coach at Cholla High in Tucson, Ariz.

Woodruff said he was still “getting settled” into his new digs when he spoke with The Acorn Monday morning. He was scheduled to meet individually with the OCHS assistant coaches on Tuesday.

“In the middle of coaching (college) all those years, I was a high school coach,” Woodruff said. “ Ironically, those were some of the most rewarding years I’ve ever had. . . . Of course, Oaks Christian has got to be one of the top high school jobs in the country.”

Oaks Christian athletic director Jan Hethcock said he’s eager to start a new chapter in the saga of Lion football. Hethcock also reflected on what former head coach Bill Redell meant to Oaks Christian the past 12 seasons.

“ Bill Redell was the face of the program from the very beginning,” Hethcock said. “He started it from scratch. He’s done an absolutely wonderful job.

“Change can be difficult. But this change brings a new face and new excitement, energy and enthusiasm. We are getting someone in Jeff Woodruff who has a tremendous amount of experience coaching at the highest competitive level for college.”

Woodruff said he will not rewrite the Lions’ successful recipe.

“We’re not going to make a ton of changes. That would be foolish,” he said. “The smartest thing to do is find out what we do and how we do it and start making subtle changes where need be.

“I’m excited to be here.”


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