Robert Woodard (baseball)

Robert Woodard
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamCharlotte
ConferenceThe American
Record145–113 (.562)
Biographical details
Born (1985-01-10) January 10, 1985 (age 39)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
2004–2007North Carolina
2007Eugene Emeralds
2007–2008Portland Beavers
2008Fort Wayne Wizards
2008–2009Lake Elsinore Storm
Position(s)Pitcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2010–2012North Carolina (asst)
2013UNC Wilmington (asst)
2014–2016Virginia Tech (asst)
2017–2019North Carolina (asst)
2020–presentCharlotte
Head coaching record
Overall145–113 (.562)
TournamentsC-USA: 5–5
AAC: 1–2
NCAA: 3–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
C-USA Conference Tournament (2023) C-USA East Division (2021)
Awards
C-USA Coach of the Year (2021)

Robert Suiter Woodard (born January 10, 1985) is an American baseball coach and former pitcher. He is the head baseball coach at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Woodard played college baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2004 to 2007 for coach Mike Fox and in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) for three seasons from 2007 to 2009.

Amateur career

Woodard was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he played for the school's baseball teams and pitched and played shortstop.[1] As a senior, the Team One South Showcase named Woodard a top 10 prospect. He also played on the Area Code National Team in the Japan Goodwill Series.

After graduation from high school, he decided to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to play baseball. After his junior season, he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft's 46th round. He returned to North Carolina for his senior season where he was drafted in the twentieth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres.

The all-time winningest pitcher in program history at UNC, Woodard posted a career record of 34–5 over four seasons as a Tar Heel. He was a three-time All-ACC performer and the 2006-07 recipient of the Patterson Medal, North Carolina's highest athletic honor. From 2004 to 2007, the Tar Heels won 195 games and advanced to back-to-back College World Series Finals in 2006 and 2007. In addition to the aforementioned career record of 34–5, Woodard finished his college career with a perfect 22–0 record at UNC's Boshamer Stadium. He also left North Carolina ranking among the top 10 in Atlantic Coast Conference history in victories and innings pitched.

Coaching career

In 2012, Woodard served as pitching coach of the Orleans Firebirds, a collegiate summer baseball team in the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]

In 2019, Woodard was named the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers baseball program.[3]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Charlotte 49ers (Conference USA) (2020–2023)
2020 Charlotte 9–8 N/A N/A Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Charlotte 40–21 24–8 1st (East) NCAA Regionals
2022 Charlotte 36–22 17–13 T–6th
2023 Charlotte 36–28 17–12 3rd NCAA Regionals
Charlotte 49ers (American Athletic Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Charlotte 24–34 12–15 T–6th AAC Tournament
Charlotte: 145–113 (.562) 70–48 (.593)
Total: 145–113 (.562)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

  1. ^ "Meet Carolina's Freshmen Pitchers". www.goheels.com. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. September 3, 2003. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "Robert Woodard". charlotte49ers.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ^ David Scott (June 29, 2019). "Charlotte native and former UNC standout named 49ers baseball coach". www.charlotteobserver.com. Charlotte Observer. Retrieved July 1, 2019.