Published April 26, 2005
Woodford sidelined by health issues

Dennis Toll Sports Writer
Manhattan Mercury

Manhattan High wrestling coach Lee Woodford is stepping down from his position as the Indians head coach.

"It's a very difficult decision," Woodford said this morning in discussing his decision to retire from coaching. "Leaving something that's been a part of me and my life and my family's life for almost 30 years, it was a difficult thing to do."

Difficult, but necessary for his own health, said Woodford, who suffered a heart attack on Father's Day last June.

"Physically, I didn't think it was fair to the kids," he said. "There were days I went in there and I didn't feel I could give 100 percent. There were days I didn't give 100 percent, not because I didn't want to, but just because I didn't feel well."

Since suffering the heart attack, Woodford has been fatigued and struggled throughout the season with health issues.

"It's hard to go in there and ask the kids to give 100 percent when I wasn't sure I was able to do it," Woodford said.


Manhattan High School wrestling coach Lee Woodford, right.
His career at Manhattan High began in 1986, after coaching for seven years at Goodland.

During his tenure, Woodford led the Indians to 14 I-70 League championships and runner-up finishes in each of his other four trips to the I-70 tournament.

This season, in the Indians' first season in the Centennial League, Woodford led Manhattan to another league title, ending Emporia's 23-year reign as Centennial champions.

In regional action, Woodford-led Manhattan squads won nine championships and were runner-up four times.

In the Class 6A State tournament, Woodford's Indians were third-place finishers on five occasions and runners-up three times, the most recent coming this season.

In 2004, Woodford and the Indians were crowned state champions.

"We'd like to have won some more," Woodford said when considering his state title, "but I'm not disappointed by what we have done."

Woodford has also coached five wrestlers who earned All-American honors, including Scott Coleman, who was twice an All-American and Kera Pemberton, who was four-times a USAGWA All-American.

Under Woodford, Manhattan has had 16 individual state titles, including Scott Coleman, who won three of those titles.

"The camaraderie," Woodford said when asked what he would miss the most. "That and being part of something that was bigger than myself."

Woodford will continue to teach at MHS, but he says he will now have more time for family and trips to Texas to visit his grandson.

"He will be greatly missed for his leadership role in the program here in Manhattan," MHS director of athletics Mike Marsh said in announcing Woodford's departure this morning. "You can take all the accolades and all the trophies for his victories, but the best thing about coach Woodford has been the personal attention for each one of his wrestlers."

The search process to find a replacement will begin immediately, Marsh said. The announcement for the open position will be published quickly and the athletic office will begin accepting applications.

Marsh said he hoped to have a new coach hired by the end of the school year.

i'm gonna miss coach woodford he did a lot for me that i'll never ever forget. He taught alot more than just wrestling in that room everyday. but at least he can spend more time w/ family now

Good luck to Coach Woodford!

Wow! Good Luck to Coach Woodford. Manhattan would be a great program for coaching, be interesting to see who they get.

A great school and coach, very much respected, good luck to both.

Is there a possibility for a Bammes to take over that program? I know that would be a great person to attempt to fill those huge shoes! Good luck in the future.

I agree I think that either Bammes would be a great coach for them. Mike, you are right they would be great to take over the program.

There is no doubt that Bammes would be a great candidate for the coaching job...and a Rogaine trial test!!!

Rogain!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahaha!

Woodford will be greatly missed. He was a great coach.

Dear Coach,
I am not sure that he reads this page all that much, but I will say that I am the coach I am toady because of Lee Woodford. When I was a student at KSU looking for a wrestling coaches position he helped me out. For 5 years I was fortunate enough to be one of the many Manhattan Assistants and watch a program that is truly an inspiration to behold. Coach has his athletes in prime condition, skilled, and aggressive at the begining of the season. He has tiered his program to start at a young age and it continues throughout high school. Coach you taught me more than you can ever know, each day I use a "Woody" trick in my room. Especially grinder matches and gassers, the only way to condition!
I was also fortunate enough to share a passion for teaching history with coach. We are both social studies teachers and I encouraged all of my fellow student-teachers to stop by and check out his teaching style. He uses one of the hardest methods around today, all-be-it well aged, socratic method of questioning. He holds his students attention and loves to teach. He has also won teacher of the year at least twice I believe.
Coach, Manhattan High will not be the same place without you as the wrestling coach, the room will never be the same!
Good luck to whoever fills this position, what a reputation to live up too! Bammes will do a fine job if selected, Lord knows he spent enough time in that room also and will continue the Indian tradition, sans his last two remaining hairs!
I feel priveleged to have once been an Indian assistant and to have known this man on a personal level. Best of luck to ya coach, and keep on smiling!
Coach Jason Brown

I dont know Coach Woodford personally, but my brother and the rest of my family does. From what I've heard, he is a great guy!!

I'd been thinking about what I will say to Coach next time I see him ...... I think Coach Brown pretty much voiced what all of us would say who have had the opportunity to be a part of Coach's program ....... I'm not sure he will ever know how much he has done in terms of teaching and coaching his many students ...... I know I will be forever grateful for the time I spent in the room with Woody and Tony and the boys from Manhappy ...... thanks, Coach! ........ I'm wishing you all the best and hoping to see you around some next year!