LeVar Woods

Position: Linebackers Experience: Fifth Year at Iowa Alma Mater: University of Iowa, 2000

LeVar Woods, a three-year football letterman at the University of Iowa and a veteran of seven seasons in the National Football League, was named linebackers coach in February. Woods previously served as an administrative assistant with the Iowa program since September, 2008.

Woods served as Iowa's defensive line coach in the 2011 Insight Bowl. Despite the loss to 14th-ranked Oklahoma, the Hawkeye defense held the Sooners to a season-low 275 yards total offense and just 114 net rushing yards. Iowa linemen recorded four tackles for loss and two sacks and an interception.

Iowa has been bowl eligible the past 11 seasons and has participated in 10 bowl games since 2001. The Hawkeyes won bowl games following the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons, defeating ranked opponents in both 2009 and 2010. The Hawkeyes have ranked in the final top 10 of both major polls four times in the past 10 seasons.

Iowa has appeared in six January bowl games since 2001. The Hawkeyes have won six-of-10 bowl games under Kirk Ferentz and his staff, including four January bowl victories. The January Bowl wins have come over Florida (2004 Outback), LSU (2005 Capital One), South Carolina (2009 Outback) and Georgia Tech (2010 Orange).

Iowa has won 85 games over the past 10 seasons, including 50 Big Ten games. The Hawkeyes earned a share of the Big Ten title in both 2002 and 2004 and tied for second in 2009. Iowa has finished in the Big Ten's first division in 10 of the past 11 years.

As an administrative assistant, Woods assisted the coaching staff in compiling statistical information, gathering information on opponents and recruits and assisting in the day to day operation of the football office.

During his NFL playing career, Woods played for Arizona, Chicago, Detroit and Tennessee. Woods signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2001 and spent the first four years of his career in Arizona.

In 88 career games Woods totaled 168 tackles, 2.5 QB sacks, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

Woods teams with fellow NFL player Kyle Vanden Bosch (both are graduates of West Lyon HS in Inwood, Iowa) in hosting a youth football camp in their hometown. He has also founded the LeVar Woods Football Academy in Okoboji, Iowa, teaching fundamentals and techniques to youth and high school athletes.

During his stint with the Cardinals, Woods was named a finalist for both the Byron "Whizzer" White and Walter Payton Man of the Year awards, recognizing his contributions to charity.

Woods has been involved with several charitable organizations throughout his career, including the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids foundation, Homeward Bound, Soup Kitchen, Youth Christmas shopping trips and, Milk and Cookies Youth Reading Program, along with speaking engagements to elementary school children. Woods has also been instrumental in developing the Hawkeye Readers youth reading program in conjunction with the Iowa City: UNESCO City of Literature, which helps promote the importance of literacy to children.

He has also been involved with the NFL's Executive and Entrepreneurship programs through the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University and the Stanford School of Business.

Woods lettered as a member of the Hawkeye football team from 1998-2000. He was a two-year starter at outside linebacker, totaling 165 career tackles, including 18 tackles for loss and four sacks.

He was a team captain as a senior in 2000 and earned second team all-Big Ten honors after recording 97 tackles. He was selected for the Blue-Gray All-Star game following his senior season.

Along with serving as defensive team captain, Woods was co-Most Valuable Player and the recipient of the Hayden Fry "Extra Heartbeat Award", given each year to the Hawkeye player who gives extraordinary effort on the field.

Woods attended West Lyon HS in Inwood, Iowa, where he earned all-state honors and was the Class 2A Player of the Year as a senior. He rushed for 1,226 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior, while totaling 50 tackles, nine QB sacks and two recovered fumbles as a defensive end.

He earned his degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa in December, 2000.

Woods was born March 15, 1978 in Cleveland, Ohio. LeVar and his wife, Meghann, have two children, a daughter (Sydney) and a son (Mason).

WOODS' COACHING CAREER

Iowa LB, 2012-present

Iowa AA, 2008-11