Erick Woods ’01 returned to Hawk Hill as the director of Student-Athlete Development this year, now 20 years after he finished playing his final basketball game for the Hawks back in 2001. 

In the years since he graduated, Woods had several jobs at different organizations. He was the director of Student Athlete Development and Performance Enhancement at Roman Catholic High School, and has held several basketball coaching jobs, teaching positions and administrative roles. Most recently, Woods was associate campus minister for Ignatian Service at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. 

Now, as director of Student-Athlete Development for the Hawks, Woods is responsible for student athletes throughout their college career, helping to provide them with leadership opportunities, faith and spirituality guidance, connections to developing alumni relationships and health and wellness resources.

Woods said all of his previous experiences led him to his current position with his alma mater. 

“Everything that I’ve done from the time I graduated here has prepared me to come into this role and be an excellent resource for our student athletes,” Woods said. “All of my experiences that I have had have really prepared me to be an asset to the university and our student athletes.”

Bill Avington ’94,  director of communications at St. Joe’s Prep, said Woods is a great fit for his new position.

“Having been a student-athlete at St. Joe’s, he understands the demands of the role but also the need to integrate into the school community, which is what he did at [St. Joe’s] Prep,” Avington said.

Woods will also be overseeing diversity, equity and inclusion advancement within the athletic department, according to Renie Shields ’82, senior associate athletics director for Student Experience.

“One of his main [focuses] is diversity, equity and inclusion to be sure that we, as a department, are not only educated but also live out our ideals of being inclusive of all people regardless of who they are and where they came from,” Shields said.

The athletic department wants their athletes to feel included, and Woods’ position is a central source of  this. Shields said Woods’ own experiences as a previous student athlete and high school coach, teacher and campus minister are exactly what the athletic department was looking for in a candidate.

“Erick’s background in working with youth and with teenagers, and his interest in the whole person will fulfill our vision of educating and transforming our students throughout their four years [at] St. Joe’s.” Shields said.

Part of helping students to improve themselves is offering chances for them to give back to their community. Avington said Woods created many service opportunities for students at St. Joe’s Prep including food drives, clean up efforts on Girard Avenue and providing lunches for healthcare and frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

“One of the things that Erick had really managed was doing service during Covid, when there were restrictions among many things.” Avington said. “Service never stopped, which was a real testament to Erick and his desire to work and his creativity.”

Woods said that he is looking forward to several aspects of his new role as director of Student Athlete Development.

“I [am excited for] the opportunity to meet people and build relationships with student athletes, with our coaches and with our campus partners who are going to be key to helping our student athletes access everything that our great university has to offer,”  Woods said.