Shawnee State University

A veteran runner at Ashland (Ohio) who has won a NCAA National Championship as a member of the school's 4-by-400 meter relay unit and is a five-time All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship track and field athlete for the Eagles, Noah Wood will be joining the Shawnee State men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field program as a sprints coach -- adding a sterling resume to what is a prolific program already.

"I feel a great privilege and honor to become the sprints coach at Shawnee State," Wood said. "It is truly a blessing, and I am very thankful to be put in a position within this coaching staff where I can help benefit this program as much as possible. It means a lot to me to be able to come back home and start coaching near where I grew up. Throughout my college career, I knew that I wanted to be able to move back home and make a difference within my community. To start taking those first steps and get settled into this position has been super exciting."
 
From the outset of his track and field career, Wood has been a threat to contend for state and national championships. A native of Kitts Hill in nearby Lawrence County, Wood's impact was immediate. By his sophomore season in 2019, Wood had booked his first trip to the OHSAA Division II State Track and Field Championships, placing 10th at the state meet after qualifying for state with a OHSAA Division II, Region 7 Meet winning 400 meter dash time of 49.48.
 
While the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately wiped out Wood's junior outdoor track and field season, the standout sprinter recovered with a bang in 2021 by not only qualifying for the 400 meter dash but the 200 meter dash as well -- winning the OHSAA Division II, Region 7 Meet in the 400 meter dash and placing fourth in the same meet in the 200 meter dash.
 
Wood concluded his high school track and field career with a fourth-place run in the 400 meter dash (49.12) and a 10th-place showing in the 200 meter dash (22.62) -- capping another fantastic track and field career both for Rock Hill and in the Ohio Valley Conference in general.
 
"Throughout my time at Rock Hill, I had phenomenal mentors and coaches that always put the students and athletes first," Wood said. "I believe we were able to be successful as a team because of the selflessness and dedication to our program that my coaches always displayed. Todd Knipp, Trey Wilds, Mark McFann, and Michael Miller were crucial to helping develop my success within the track and field world. They were always able to make practice and competitions fun and exciting. Outside of track, I always remembered the quote my principal Sam Gue would give us at the end of every school day. 'Remember to ask yourselves these three questions everyday. How can I be better today? Who can I serve? What can I celebrate?' Those questions truly had such a profound impact on my mindset and how I went about my day to be a positive influence for others."
 
Wood's certainly had a positive influence as a sprinter and relay competitor at Ashland. Just two months into his track and field career at Ashland, the freshman, alongside Ryan Rager, Channing Phillips and Trevor Bassitt, clicked off a 3:09.59 to win the 2022 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championship by just over 1.2 seconds over Pittsburg State (Kan.), and from there, it's been off and running for Wood as the Lawrence County product has accomplished a fourth-place finish nationally as part of Ashland's 4-by-400 meter relay unit in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships and won two additional conference championships in the 4-by-400 -- one indoor and one outdoor -- in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference over the course of his illustrious track and field career.
 
"When I reflect on my collegiate experience and accolades that I accomplished, I know that none of it was possible without God," Wood said. "I was able to give my best effort throughout my career and I was fortunate enough to achieve most of my goals within that process. I believe that the experience I gained during my career as a track and field athlete will directly contribute to the training and development of athletes that I coach in the future. I am super excited to work with future collegiate athletes and pass on my knowledge to them."
 
Now, Wood will have the opportunity to translate his championship knowledge in the area where he began cultivating his skills.
 
"In terms of goals, I believe the first step will be being able to have the athletes bought in on the training and coaching," Wood said. "It is very important that we continue to develop a consistent winning culture within the program. We want our athletes to know that when they come to Shawnee State they are going to join a program that can help develop successful men and women on the track, and in life."