6A Coach of the Year - 2004

LEE WOODFORD
Manhattan High School

Manhattan’s Lee Woodford’s state title run with his Indian wrestlers helped earn him the honor of being voted the 6A Coach of the Year by his colleagues. Woodford has spent 18 years developing Manhattan High School into one of the top programs in the state year after year.

In addition to winning the 6A title, the Indians also won regional and I-70 league crowns. They placed first at Junction City, tied for first at Beloit, won Salina South, won the Topeka Highland Park Melvin Douglas Invitational, and were the undefeated champions at the Ottawa duals. On the season, the Indians went 8-0 in dual competitions.

Woodford coached for five years at Chase High School in Chase, Kansas, from 1973-78. He then coached at Goodland High School from 1980-1986 for seven years, including four years as head junior high and assistant high school coach. He also served as head high school and assistant junior high coach at Goodland as well. In his 18 years at Manhattan, the Indians have won 14 league titles and 8 regional titles. He has coached 17 individual state champions and 8 high school All-Americans. He has had two wrestlers win high school national titles.

Woodford teaches Social Studies at Manhattan. He graduated from Sterling College in 1973.

As an athlete, Woodford claims he was “just another wrestler” on his high school team in Minersville, Pennsylvania.

As a coach, Woodford was twice been named 6A Coach of the Year before this year; was the 2002 National Wrestling Coaches Association Kansas Coach of the Year; was given the 2002 KWOA Sportsmanship Award and was selected as a 2004 Senior Classic coach.