LeVar Woods, currently the No. 1 ranked Special Teams coach since 2009, and the No. 6 highest graded coach in the FBS, enters his 6th season as Iowa’s Special Teams Coordinator in 2023. Woods brings playing experience in the Big Ten and the NFL to the Hawkeyes. He has used this experience to lead ten players to NFL careers including two SuperBowl wins, multiple NFL-All Pro Selections, and multiple Pro Bowl appearances. Over the past few years, Coach Woods has helped the Hawkeyes remain in the national rankings, finishing in the Top 25 final rankings in four of the last five seasons and continuing the streak of 10-straight winning seasons, highlighted by a 10-win season and a Big Ten Championship appearance in 2021. Special teams has played a critical role in Iowa’s success as kicker Caleb Shudak led the team in scoring in (108 points) and set a school record for career field goal accuracy in 2021.

Since joining the Hawkeyes staff in 2008, Woods has contributed to 13 winning seasons, 6 bowl wins, and a No. 2 AP ranking during the 2021 season. Iowa’s special teams play contributed greatly to the team’s success. In 2021, the Hawkeyes were ranked in the Top-20 in kickoff return defense (14th), kickoff returns (17th), and punt return defense (18th). In 2020, Woods’ special teams led the Big Ten in net punting (42.9), ranked 5th nationally in kickoff return coverage (15.7), and saw kicker Keith Duncan become Iowa’s career leader with 20 field goals from 40 yards and beyond. This school record came after a 2019 season in which Duncan led the nation with 29 made field goals (in 34 attempts), the 6th best rank in NCAA history. In Woods’ first season as Special Teams Coordinator, Iowa led the Big Ten and ranked 2nd nationally in kickoff returns. That season, the Hawkeyes also ranked 2nd in the Big Ten in punt return average (10.6), and 8th in the nation in kickoff return coverage (16.4).

In addition to his success leading the Hawkeye’s special teams, LeVar Woods has also seen success coaching both the tight ends and linebackers throughout his time at Iowa. In total, Woods has sent 10 players to the NFL, 7 who are still active today, and 4 of whom have played at least 5 seasons. Woods’s players have earned over 30 All-Big Ten or All-America honors including 4 First-Team All-Big Ten and 2 First-Team All-America selections throughout his tenure.

In total, Woods has coached 4 All-Americans, 16 All-Big Ten honorees, 2 Rodgers-Dwight Big-Ten Return Specialists of the Year, a Ray Guy Award semifinalist, a Lou Groza Award finalist, the Big Ten Punter of the Year, and the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year.

“It’d be tough to find a player that didn’t get better under him and/or didn’t respect him as a person.”

NFL Scout

“Without [his] guidance and friendship, I would not be where I am today. [He] helped me achieve one of my dreams.”

George Kittle
San Francisco 49ers Tight End