Joe Woodley has been announced as the head coach at Grand View University, an NAIA school in Des Moines, Iowa.
Woodley has been with the program since its 2008 founding, working under head coach Mike Woodley -- his father.
"Joe has been with the Grand View football program from the beginning and has been preparing for this day for a long time," Grand View AD Troy Plummer said. "I'm excited that we are now able to afford him this opportunity. Grand View football isn't what it is today without Joe Woodley and I have every confidence that he will carry on the tradition of success that he has helped put in to place. He's been ready to take on this role for a while, and now is his time."
Woodley had been Grand View's associate head coach and offensive coordinator, where he helped the Vikings finish in the top 25 nationally in scoring offense, passing and rushing en route to an 8-3 finish and an NAIA playoff appearance.
Woodley was selected as the inaugural winner of the FootballScoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year in 2013, a year in which Grand View went 14-0 and claimed the NAIA national title, when he was the program's defensive coordinator.
“I’m particularly proud of Joe and the way he relates to his players,” Mike Woodley said at the time. “He builds a great rapport with them and really earns their respect. Joe’s been here with me from the beginning and helped me build this program from the ground into a championship program. I couldn’t be more proud of him and the entire defensive staff.”
While Joe ascends to the head coaching position of the program he helped his father found, Mike Woodley is not retiring.
After a 2-8 debut season in 2008, Grand View went 91-27 in 10 seasons under Mike Woodley's leadership.
"The Grand View Athletic Department is grateful for all the time and effort Mike Woodley has put into this football program," Plummer said. "He has established Grand View football as one of the top NAIA programs in the country. We very much appreciate all that he has done for Grand View University and wish him nothing but the best going forward."
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