Coach Woods came to Big Piney after short coaching stints in Idaho and Utah. Upon his arrival, Woods quickly assumed the head coaching position of the boys’ basketball program and served in that position for the next eight years. Coach Woods also served as an assistant football coach and helped lead the Punchers to the Wyoming State Championships in 1999 and 2000.
During Fred’s eight years as the head basketball coach, the Punchers won over 115 games and only once (1st yr) had a losing record. He produced four regular season Rocky Mountain Conference Championships and two West Regional titles. His teams qualified for the Wyoming State tournament on three different occasions finishing as high as winning the consolation championship in 1996.
Personally, Coach Woods was selected as the Rocky Mountain Coach of the Year on two occasions. He served the Wyoming Coaches Association as a member of the All-Star selection committee and served as the Head Coach for the South team at the WCA Coaches All-Star game.
Coach Woods love for the game led him to start developmental programs in Big Piney as well as schools in Idaho and now in Washington. He was responsible for bringing the Junior Jazz program to Big Piney and youth programs in these communities continue to this day. In 2000, his last Puncher team qualified for the state tournament, those players were among the first to participate in his Junior Jazz program. Similar results have occurred in both his Idaho and Washington schools.
In 2005, Coach Woods as he puts it, “jumped to the dark side” and became principal of Clearwater, ID. High School. In 2007, he accepted his present position as principal at Friday Harbor, WA., High School. Much to his dedication and leadership abilities, Friday Harbor received a Washington State Achievement Award in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, U.S. News and World Report listed Friday Harbor as the 4th best high school in Washington and 161st best in the country.
Fred Woods considers his years at Big Piney as the foundation for his coaching and teaching philosophies. Coach Woods has maintained relationships with his former athletes and is proud to have coached an impressive number of All-Staters as well as players that have furthered their playing days at the collegiate level.