Matt Woodard, who spent the past four seasons at RIT and helped the Tigers make the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, has joined the Yale women’s staff as an assistant coach.
“We are excited to Have Matt join the Yale athletics family,” said Yale head coach Joakim Flygh in a statement. “Matt fits very well into what our core values are and I have no doubt that he will hit the ground running for us.”
Woodard joined the RIT staff for the 2013-14 season and helped the Tigers win College Hockey America championships in each of his first two years, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 2014-15.
Prior to his stint at RIT, Woodard spent two seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Manhattanville.
Woodard is a 2009 graduate of American International, where he played defense for the Yellow Jackets. He tied for fourth on the school’s all-time games played list (133), the most for an AIC blueliner. He then played pro hockey for the Fort Wayne Komets and the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the CHL in 2009-10.
A double major in criminal justice and psychology, Woodard was a four-time Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team selection at AIC. He was on the Dean’s List every semester and was the recipient of the Dr. James A. Brennan Award for outstanding achievement as a double major. He also earned the ECAC Award of Merit for excellence on the field of competition and in the classroom.
In addition to Woodard, the Yale coaching staff also includes Amanda Boulier, returning for her second season with the Bulldogs.
