A meet and greet reception for the new head coach of Jackets football will be held Thursday, June 2 at 6 PM in the Jeff D. Cody Arena. Students, parents and the community are invited to the evening event.     

                Jim Woodard, who has spent the last five years as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at 6A Tomball Memorial High School was unanimously approved as head football coach and boys athletic coordinator at the May 23 school board work session.

                In his five seasons at Tomball Memorial, the Wildcats posted a win/loss record of 36-18 which included Bi-District finalist in 2018, District Champion and Area finalist in 2019, and they advanced to the Regional Semi-finals in 2020 after winning the District Championship.

                Athletic Director Jeri Larrison-Hall, who accompanied Woodard on his first official tour of his new high school home, credited the football heritage within his family, coupled with his passion for the sport, in making him an ideal candidate to lead the Jackets. Football runs deep in his family; his father is a retired football coach. His two brothers also coach high school football.

                “We are excited for Coach Woodard to get started with our kids—and for our kids to see that same passion and energy we saw in him during the interview process,” Larrison-Hall said. “We can’t wait to see him pouring that into our kids. He’s already met with some of his players and coaches. We are also finalizing details for next week’s summer football camp—with him at the helm.”

                Coach Woodard will have the opportunity to work with future Yellow Jackets at the summer sports football camp taking place May 31-June 2 for grades 1-9.

                 His wife, Elizabeth, is a Special Education teacher at Doerr Intermediate School in Klein ISD. Their son, Henry, is in the third grade—and ready to call Cleburne his new hometown, according to his father.  

                Woodard has a total of 15 years of experience in education, as a science and health teacher, and as a coach working with both high school and junior high athletes in a variety of sports.

                Prior to his position at Tomball Memorial, Woodard was a member of the Tomball High School staff, where he served as recruiting coordinator, offensive coordinator and he coached the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. During his time at THS he also coached baseball and girls soccer.

                His football experience also includes 2A Anderson-Shiro CISD, from 2014-2016, where he was the offensive coordinator and coached the quarterbacks. This was preceded by two years as an assistant coach at Llano High School, working with wide receivers and tight ends, and with defensive secondary players.

                Woodard began his career in Whitney ISD, serving as an assistant football coach and head coach for boys golf and track.

                He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Sam Houston State University. He was awarded a Master of Science degree in sports management from Texas A & M.