MANSFIELD -- Chris Woods, who served as defensive coordinator for the Mountaineers last season, has been named the 21st head coach in the 110-year football history at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.

MU President John Halstead, who introduced Woods to the Mansfield community and area media at a press conference in Decker Gymnasium this afternoon, made the announcement.

"Chris has a proven record as an outstanding and successful football coach," Halstead said. "He was one of the most successful defensive coordinators in the nation at the NCAA Division III level and directed the Mountaineer defense to marked improvement last year."

"We are committed to the continued improvement of our football program at Mansfield University and feel confident that Chris Woods is the right person at the right time to bring continuity and success to the program."

In his first season as defensive coordinator at Mansfield last year, Woods directed to MU defense to marked improvement in points allowed, rushing defense and total defense.

The assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Wittenberg University from 1996-1999, Woods helped direct the NCAA Division III Tigers to a 40-4 record. His 1998 team led the nation in scoring and passing defense and earned NCAA playoff berths in 1997, 1998, and 1999.  Woods began his coaching career in 1994 as the offensive line coach at Plymouth State College and served as the linebackers' coach in 1995. In his two seasons at Plymouth State, the Panthers posted a 19-2 record. He served as interim head football coach in 1996 before being named defensive coordinator by the incoming head coach.  A 1991 graduate of Davidson College with a BA in sociology, Woods was a four-year starter on the offensive line and served as captain his senior season.

Mansfield University is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and competes at the NCAA Division II level.  Woods replaces Joe Gilbert who resigned to accept an assistant coaching position with NCAA Division I-A University of Toledo. 

Coach Woods and his wife Stephanie reside in Mansfield.