Bowie State Release
SALISBURY, MD -- Sherman Wood has been named the new head football coach at Salisbury State (MD) University. The announcement was made by SSU's Director of Athletics, Dr. Michael Vienna.Wood, a 1984 graduate of the University and a four-year letterman on the Sea Gull football team, becomes the sixth head coach in the program's 27-year history. He returns to Salisbury State after spending the past six years as the head coach at Bowie State (MD) University.
"We conducted a comprehensive, national search for this position and had a strong applicant pool," said Vienna. "Based on all the factors we considered, which were many, Sherman was the best fit for Salisbury State. Coming from an in-state program, he is already familiar with our recruiting area. He is an alum who played and coached here and helped lay the foundation for some of our most successful teams ever. He also has a proven track record as a head coach, having turned around the program at Bowie State and made them contenders for the CIAA championship. He brings a lot of positive things to SSU that will benefit our student-athletes and our University."
Wood, 38, played defensive back for the Sea Gulls from 1980-1983, during the tenure of two different head coaches. Bill Yeagle served as the head coach during Wood's first two seasons, before Mike McGlinchey took over as head coach in 1982. Wood finished with seven career interceptions, including two returns for touchdown, and was a starter and team captain on the 1983 team that earned SSU's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth and advanced to the national semifinals. He still holds the SSU record for most career interception return yards with 131. Wood earned all-state defensive back honors by The (Baltimore) Sun and recognition as a Street & Smith All-American during his career.
Wood began his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant under McGlinchey in 1984 and became a graduate assistant coach for the Sea Gulls in 1985. He moved to Bowie State as a graduate assistant coach in 1986, coaching the defensive backs and special teams. He became a full-time assistant coach with the Bulldogs in 1988, assuming the duties of assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He remained at Bowie State as an assistant coach until 1992, when he became the assistant head football coach at Virginia Union. One year later, in 1993, Wood returned to Bowie State as head coach.
Wood inherited a Bowie State program that finished 1-10 in the season before he arrived. Wood compiled a 23-37-1 record in six seasons at the NCAA Division II school. The team's 6-3 record in 1998 was its best in 10 years. The Bulldogs finished 4-3 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), including two losses by a combined three points. Bowie State was ranked 16th in the nation in total defense in 1998 (268.7 ypg), second in the nation in pass defense (106.9 ypg), and 10th in the nation in scoring defense (14.0 ppg).
During Wood's tenure at Bowie State, he has coached six Coca-Cola/Sportsview Scholar-Athlete Award winners and a national Burger King Scholar-Athlete of the Week winner. He had three players earn all-CIAA honors in 1998, and one player who received all-South Atlantic Region honors.
"I appreciate the opportunity provided to me by Bowie State University," said Wood. "I've spent 11 years at Bowie State and it's been a wonderful experience. I'm also excited about the new opportunity at Salisbury State University. It's my alma mater, and I want to continue the positive things that have occurred there. I'm looking forward to some exciting football.
"Salisbury State and the surrounding community are places that I am familiar with. I had a feeling that one day I would be back. I knew that if I had the opportunity of returning, I would take advantage of it."
A firm believer in giving back to the community, Wood is a speaker at numerous sports clinics and involves himself with a variety of local organizations. These groups include: the Special Olympics, the Jazz Foundation, Herring Run Head Start Program, Bladensburg Mentor Program and Youth Service International.
Wood, originally from Norfolk, VA, is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and serves on its All-American and Rules committees.
In addition to his bachelor's degree from Salisbury State, Wood earned his master's degree from Bowie State. He will have some teaching duties in SSU's Physical Education Department in addition to his duties with the football program.
Wood and his wife Tonya have one daughter, Sherece, 13.
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