Rob Woodward Position: Volunteer Assistant Coach

Former Spartan winger Rob Woodward returns for his third season as the Spartans' volunteer assistant coach in 2007-08.

Woodward will assist in all facets of practices and games, with a specific focus on coaching the team's forwards.

Woodward spent five seasons (2000-05) as the head coach of Lansing Catholic Central High School where he compiled a 71-51-5 overall record. Woodward, who took over the program in 2000-01, went 9-13-3 in his first season. During his final two seasons, the Cougars recorded a 30-17-2 overall mark (25-5-2 conference). In addition, LCC captured the conference title for the first time in 27 years in 2004. During his tenure, he was selected as the Capital Area Activities Conference Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

Woodward also served as an assistant coach with the Chicago Young Americans from 1995-98 and again in 2000.

A left winger for MSU from 1989-93, Woodward appeared in 155 games as a Spartan, closing his collegiate career with 48 goals and 47 assists for 95 points and 170 penalty minutes. During his four-year tenure, the Spartans captured the CCHA regular-season and playoff crowns in 1989-90. They advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 1989-90 and the Frozen Four in 1991-92, falling to eventual National Champion Lake Superior State, 4-2, in the semifinals.

He won MSU's Goofus Award for three straight seasons (1991-93) as the team's humorist. In addition, he was an honorable mention selection to the 1990 CCHA All-Rookie Team after recording 17 goals and nine assists for 26 points in 44 games in 1989-90. His 17 goals as a rookie still ranks ninth on MSU's freshman single-season chart for goals. He was selected in the second-round (No. 29 overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks.

Following his four-year Spartan career, Woodward skated for the American Hockey League Hamilton Canucks in 1993-94. In 60 games, he posted 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points and 45 penalty minutes. He worked in the private sector for four years before returning to the ice for one year with the ECHL's Columbus Chill. He posted 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points and 48 penalty minutes in 50 games.

Prior to his arrival at MSU, he played for Deerfield High School where he earned all-state honors as a junior and a senior and was DHS's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1988-89. He was named the Warriors' team MVP after his junior (91 points) and senior seasons (117 points). Deerfield finished second (1987-88) and third (1988-89) at the state tournament. In addition to hockey, Woodward was a standout football player where he was selected a 1988 High School Preseason All-American.

Born Jan. 15, 1971, Woodward earned his bachelor's degree in geography from MSU in 2000.