Southeastern La. Men’s Basketball adds former Lions player Roger Woods to coaching staff

HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana men’s basketball team has hired Roger Woods as assistant coach entering the 2021-22 season, third-year SLU men’s head basketball coach David Kiefer announced Wednesday.

Woods, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, played for the Lions as a freshman in the 2012-13 season under former SLU head coach Jim Yarbrough where he played in 30 games averaging 19.4 minutes.

“Southeastern is special to me,” said Woods. “It was my first home away from home and it made me grow a lot as a person and as an athlete. So now to be back where it all started for me is a great feeling. I’m looking forward to helping coach Kiefer and the entire staff put together a winning product on and off the floor.”

Following his freshman season, Woods transferred to Little Rock from 2014-2016 where he played for former Texas Tech and current University of Texas head coach Chris Beard. Woods averaged 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds combined as a junior and senior at Little Rock.

As a senior, Woods helped Little Rock (30-5 in 2016) to a thrilling win over Purdue in double overtime in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament scoring 13 points. The Provine High grad also earned third team All-Sun Belt as well Sun Belt Tournament MVP as a senior.

Woods was on Beard’s coaching staff at Texas Tech in the 2020-21 season. The Red Raiders advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by 10th-ranked Arkansas, 68-66.

“Roger brings a lot to the table,” said Kiefer. “After working for one of the best coaches in the country at Texas Tech (Beard) that has had a ton of success, Roger is going to be a big part of this staff. As a Jackson native, he also has good ties to that area where he can help us get the quality of players that we want, guys like (former Lion) Moses Greenwood. That area produces a lot of great players and somebody with Roger’s resume can help us land some of those guys. Not to mention him being a former Lion and he is familiar with this area.”

Prior to Texas Tech, Woods received valuable coaching experience at Chipola Junior College and Brookwood Elite (AAU).

Woods will join the Lions’ coaching staff that includes Kiefer, assistant coaches Mark Lieberman and Riley Conroy, and Director of Scouting Dean Baumert.

Woods’ hiring is pending approval from the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors.