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Mike Woods, who retired after 27 years leading Chandler Hamilton High School's baseball program, was given the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year award for baseball last week in Iowa City, Iowa.
Woods was named The Arizona Republic's 2026 Coach of the Year, after leading the Huskies to their 10th 6A state championship with a 10-7 comeback win over Tempe Corona del Sol.
There were 26 coaches from across the country nominated for the award. The committee reduced it to eight finalists.
"It was pretty cool," Woods said.
Woods' brilliant career included a streak of 26 consecutive state playoff appearances, with 17 of his teams reaching at least the semifinals.
He has produced more than 150 college players, including UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who is projected by some Major League Baseball draft analysts as the No. 1 pick of the draft on Saturday, July 11.
Woods has produced five MLB players and five Gatorade Arizona High School Baseball Players of the Year.
During the spring, Woods was inducted into the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Larry Fetkenhier, president of the executive board of the AHSACA Hall of Fame, attended the national event that honored Woods.
"His credentials are incredible," said Fetkenhier, the former Glendale Cactus High football coach. "Plus, him and his wife are wonderful people. I really enjoyed getting to know them and watching him win. It was great for Arizona."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Retired Hamilton baseball coach Mike Woods earns national honor
Continue reading...
Woods was named The Arizona Republic's 2026 Coach of the Year, after leading the Huskies to their 10th 6A state championship with a 10-7 comeback win over Tempe Corona del Sol.
There were 26 coaches from across the country nominated for the award. The committee reduced it to eight finalists.
"It was pretty cool," Woods said.
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Woods' brilliant career included a streak of 26 consecutive state playoff appearances, with 17 of his teams reaching at least the semifinals.
He has produced more than 150 college players, including UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who is projected by some Major League Baseball draft analysts as the No. 1 pick of the draft on Saturday, July 11.
Woods has produced five MLB players and five Gatorade Arizona High School Baseball Players of the Year.
During the spring, Woods was inducted into the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Larry Fetkenhier, president of the executive board of the AHSACA Hall of Fame, attended the national event that honored Woods.
"His credentials are incredible," said Fetkenhier, the former Glendale Cactus High football coach. "Plus, him and his wife are wonderful people. I really enjoyed getting to know them and watching him win. It was great for Arizona."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Retired Hamilton baseball coach Mike Woods earns national honor
Continue reading...
