Shawn Woods to Lead JSC’s Cross Country Programs

June 28, 2012

Johnson State College Athletics is proud to announce the hiring of Shawn Woods as Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach effective immediately. Woods takes the helm after Camille Campanile’s one-year tenure and brings an abundance of running experience to a Badger running program with a rich and successful history.

Coach Woods brings 33 years of experience coaching high school athletes in cross country and track and field. He has also trained adults for races of varying distances from 5K’s to marathons. Coach Woods served for over two decades as the Director of Athletics at Spaulding High School in Barre, Vermont. During his tenure at Spaulding he was not only the head coach of both boys and girls cross country and track and field but was also twice named high school Athletic Director of the Year for Vermont. He also created the State Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athletes Award and served as the committee’s chairman for 16 years. He was highly involved in the athletic portion of the Vermont Principals Association and served as chairman for a number of years for cross country and track.

“I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to continue the process of building a strong cross country running program at JSC,” stated Woods. “I’ve been exceedingly impressed with the welcoming attitude of the Athletic Administration, Dean of Students, alumni and the four team captains. The captains have told me they are a ‘together’ team with positive attitudes. Any coach would be thrilled to walk into a situation with that team chemistry!”

“Johnson State is a great location for cross country running with a strong network of trails,” Wood continued. “I believe that real cross country courses have a number of hills and there is no shortage of them in this location! I look forward to working with the team designing our new home cross country course to be used for the Badger Invitational in late September.”

“My coaching style is to build confidence in EACH of my athletes. Above all else I’m a teacher whose favorite subjects are running and History. I want to create an environment where each runner has the best chance to succeed. I intend to do this by creating individual practices which cater to the strengths of each of my team members. Cross training will be an integral piece in our training as will the strategy of learning how to race, not just run. I also want to continue to build leadership qualities in each of these runners along with a strong sense of community service and sportsmanship.”

“With the help of the team and Athletic Department, I want to build a competitive program that each year will be recognized as one of the better programs in the North Atlantic Conference. JSC has outstanding academic offerings and I believe it is also a hidden gem for runners of all ability levels. Vermont high school coaches have a history of producing outstanding runners. I want to use my state connections to network and bring some of those runners and some runners from other states to Johnson.”

Woods also teaches History in the winter months at Mount Mansfield Winter Academy in Stowe, is the Head Track and Field Coach at Winooski High School, and is the creator and owner of Stowe At Night Lantern Tours which has been recognized nationally by the USA TODAY as one of the top 10 flickering light tours in the United States.

Woods and the Badgers will open up their 2012 running schedule on Friday, August 31 at New England College’s Mayflower Kick-Off Meet in Henniker, New Hampshire.