Jason Woodman enters his 11th season as head football coach at Fairmont State University in 2023.
Woodman was named the 18
th coach in program history on Dec. 20, 2012.
Woodman's career win total is now the third-highest in school history at 52 wins. He trails only Deacon Duvall (125) and Doug Sams (53).
During the 2022 season, Woodman and his staff mentored six Falcons who won All-Mountain East Conference honors, including Myles Miree and Brocton Blair, who garnered first-team honors. Miree was the first Fairmont State running back to surpass the 1,000-yard mark since Tyree Randolph in 2019. Blair led the Fairmont State defense with 116 total tackles and racked up 2.5 sacks. The anchor of the Fairmont State defense collected College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Accolades and Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention honors to go along with his second All-MEC selection.
In 2021, Fairmont State finished the season with a record of 5-6 after dropping its first three games. Woodman and his coaching staff saw Michael Floria and Brocton Blair flourish in their first season at Fairmont State as Floria was named MEC Offensive Freshman of the Year and Blair was named Defensive Freshman of the Year. The program saw nine players earn All-MEC selections in the fall of 2021.
Woodman and his football staff also saw Danny Anige and Javon Hayes earn invites to the 2021 FCS National Bowl in Daytona, Florida. Hayes finished his career as ninth all-time in school history in receptions with 144 catches.
In addition to the All-MEC selections, kicker Colin Harvath broke the school record in career PATs at 133 in his final game as a Fighting Falcon.
In 2019, the Falcons turned in a 5-5 record after a slow start to the season. Fairmont State ended the year with four-straight victories to clinch its fifth-consecutive non-losing season, a feat that hadn't been accomplished at FSU since the mid-80's (1984-88). Four of Fairmont State's five losses during the 2019 season came by seven-points or less.
On the offensive side of the ball the Falcons were once again very effective in 2019, ranking 13th in NCAA Division II and leading the Mountain East Conference in total offense at 483.6 yards per game. The Falcons were 18th in the country in scoring offense (39.2), 20th in rushing offense (231.8) and 36th in passing offense (251.8). Fairmont State's offense also did a great job sustaining possessions during the 2019 season, ranking fourth in the country in 3rd-down conversions (.518) and 17th in time of possession (32:33). Quarterback Takwan Crews-Naylor was also recognized by NCAA Division II as a statistical champion after leading the country in passing efficiency (178.3).
In all, the Falcons had 12 players that earned All-MEC honors during the 2019 season, with five moving on to garner All-Region honors from the Don Hansen Gazette. In addition, Michael Porter was named an honorable mention All-American by the Don Hansen Gazette following his play at the cornerback position as a senior.
Woodman's football program has now had nine players earn All-America honors in the last four years, includingÂ
Jacob Jean-Charles andÂ
Quincy Redmon in 2016,Â
Marcus Porter,Â
Michael Porter andÂ
Stephen Turner in 2017, and Lyrics Klugh, Chandler Zavala andÂ
Jerry Iweh in 2018. (Michael) Porter became a two-time All-American after once again garnering honors following the 2019 season. In 2018, Klugh earned All-America honors from AFCA, D2CCA, Don Hansen Gazette and D2football.com after a dynamic season as a punt returner for the Falcons.
From 2015-2018, Woodman led the Falcons to four-consecutive winning seasons and has finished no worse than third in the MEC standings during the stretch. In fact, the team recorded four-consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1985-to-1988 under head coach Wally Hood.
In addition, the Fairmont State football program has recorded eight-or-more wins in a season just six times since 1979 - including three seasons under Woodman from 2016-18.
In 2018 the Falcons finished the year with a 9-2 overall record, which included an 8-2 mark in MEC play. In 2018, Fairmont State ranked 14th in the country in scoring offense (39.4), 23rd in rushing offense (222.9), 24th in total offense (447.0), 26th in red zone offense (.851), and sixth in third-down conversions (.496).
The Falcons also placed 18 players on the All-MEC football teams following the 2018 season, which included six first team all-conference selections, and three All-Americans (Lyrics Klugh, Chandler Zavala, Jerry Iweh). The trio of All-Americans were also joined on the Don Hansen All-Super Region 1 Team by safety Stephen Turner and running back Khalik Hamlin.
In 2016 and 2017, Woodman led the Falcons to records of 10-2 and 8-3, which includes the No. 4 seed in the NCAA DII football playoffs in 2016.Â
With a 10-2 record in 2016 and an 8-3 record in 2017, Fairmont State recorded eight-wins or more in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 52 years (1964, 1965).
Following the 2017 season, 15 Fairmont State players earned All-Mountain East Conference honors, including five first team selections (Garrett Kapstein-O'Brien, Marcus Porter, Michael Porter, Stephen Turner and Sam Keil). The postseason honors didn't stop there though, as a trio of Falcons garnered honorable mention All-America honors from the Don Hansen Gazette, including Marcus Porter, Michael Porter and Stephen Turner. Kicker Sam Keil also joined the trio on the Don Hansen Gazette All-Super Region 1 Team.
Woodman and his staff were also instrumental in the development of three seniors that earned professional opportunities following the 2017 season, which included linebacker Marcus Porter signing with the Green Bay Packers and Quincy Redmon inking a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins. Fellow defensive end Chinedu Oparaku also signed a contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL following the 2017 season. Standout linebacker Jerry Iweh also earned a tryout with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles following the 2018 season, and Fabian Guerra - the school's all-time leader in receptions - was also named the Co-Rookie of the Year in the Arena Football League (AFL) following the 2019 season.
Fairmont’s 10-2 record in 2016 was the best finish for the Falcons since the 1967 NAIA National Championship Team completed an 11-0 season with its championship victory over Eastern Washington. The 10-1 regular season mark also set a new program record for wins during the regular season.
In addition to earning the fourth-seed in Super Region 1 and hosting rights against fifth-seeded Indiana (PA) in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs, the Falcons also jumped into the National Rankings for the first time since Sept. 4, 2001. The Falcons were ranked as high as No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll during the 2016 season, as FSU was ranked in the final five poll releases of the regular season and were slotted 23
rd in the postseason rankings that were released following the conclusion of the NCAA Football Playoffs. The Falcons also appeared in the D2Football.com Media Poll rankings during four of the final five weeks of the season – sitting as high as No. 21 on Nov. 1, 2016.
Two players picked up All-America honors following Fairmont’s historic season in 2016, including defensive end Quincy Redmon and senior cornerback Jacob Jean-Charles. Redmon, the 2016 Mountain East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, picked up honors from D2Football.com after racking up 52 tackles, 12 sacks, four pass break-ups, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles to lead the stingy Fairmont State defense. Jean-Charles, a first-team All-MEC selection, garnered third team All-America honors from the Don Hansen Gazette after anchoring the FSU secondary as a senior. The duo became the first All-Americans for the programs since Matt Wilmer earned All-America accolades in 2012 as a return specialist.
Fairmont State football racked up postseason honors in 2016, as 15 players earned All-MEC honors (six first-team selections) and five were named to the All-Super Region 1 team for their efforts.
Laurence King, the 2016 MEC Offensive Freshman of the Year, helped anchor a balanced offensive attack for FSU in 2016 by torching the single-season mark for receptions in a year with 88 catches for 973 yard to lead the FSU air attack. Mike Roscoe set the previous record for receptions by a FSU receiver back in 1987 with 75. King also averaged 28.6 yards per kick return and returned two touchdowns as a freshman on special teams. The true-freshman racked up 1,822 all-purpose yards on the season.
Woodman also mentored one of the top quarterback-wide receiver duos in school history as four-year starting quarterback Cooper Hibbs and the school’s all-time leader in career receptions Fabian Guerra left a permanent mark in the school’s record book. Hibbs ended his career in second place in Fairmont State history in passing yards (8,883), touchdown passes (66) and completions (749). Guerra wrapped up his career as the all-time school leader in receptions (233), finished second in career receiving yardage (2,805) and finished tied for third in TD receptions with 19.
In 2016, the Fairmont State offense ranked third in the league in passing offense (267.5), third in scoring offense (28.6), second in completion percentage (.633) and first in time of possession (31:27).
Following a slow start to the 2015 season, Woodman led the Falcons to a 6-4 overall record and a third-place finish in the MEC Football standings. Woodman and his staff led the Falcons to a 6-2 record in the final eight games of the season after falling to 0-2 early in the year.
Following the season, nine players earned All-MEC honors, including Jacob Jean-Charles who earned first team honors and was named an all-region cornerback by the Don Hansen Football Gazette.
In 2015, the Falcon offense scored 30-points or more in six games and quarterback Cooper Hibbs completed nearly 60 percent of his passes. Hibbs did not throw an interception until the seventh game of the season. The junior quarterback finished the year with 21 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions, passing for over 2,400 yards.
In addition to Hibbs’ standout season, the FSU offense had three players earn all-conference honors, including junior wide receiver Fabian Guerra and senior running back Austin White.
In his first two seasons on the Fairmont State sideline, Woodman produced seven All-MEC performers and an All-Super Region 1 honoree. Following the 2014 season, Fabian Guerra earned third team All-Super Region 1 honors by Beyond Sports Network and freshman inside linebacker Marcus Porter was named a Freshman All-American by USA College Football.
In 2014, the Falcons ended the season with a 3-7 overall record. Sophomore wide receiver Fabian Guerra earned first team All-MEC honors, while senior left tackle Chris Barfield was named second team All-MEC and freshman linebacker Marcus Porter earned honorable mention from the league. The FSU offense averaged 356.7 yards per game in total offense in 2014, including 253.3 yards per game through the air and a .585 completion percentage as a team.
In his first season with the Falcons in 2013, Woodman led the team to a 3-7 record. Woodman coached four All-MEC performers in his first season at FSU, including first team selection Garrett Davis. Chris Barfield and Jacob Jean-Charles earned second team accolades while Dawrence Roberts received MEC honorable mention.
Woodman came to Fairmont State after serving as the offensive coordinator at Bowie State in 2011 and 2012. The Bulldogs set several school records and ranked among the best in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). He coached three players to All-CIAA honors and his offense averaged well over 350 yards per game during his time with BSU.
Prior to his stint at Bowie State, Woodman worked for two years at Concord as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator and helped resurrect the Mountain Lion program. In his two seasons with the program, the Mountain Lions compiled a record of 14-8. Woodman also helped develop wideout Thomas Mayo into a first team All-WVIAC performer in both of his seasons as wide receivers coach at Concord.
Woodman began his college coaching career with three seasons at Louisiana State University (2004-2006) under head coaches Nick Saban and Les Miles. Woodman worked as a graduate assistant under Jimbo Fisher, then the Tigers’ Offensive Coordinator.
When Florida State hired Fisher in 2007, Woodman followed the coach to Tallahassee to work under legendary head coach Bobby Bowden.
The following year, Woodman was hired at California University (Pa.). With Woodman as running backs coach, the Vulcans went 13-1, winning their first outright Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship and setting a school record for wins in a season while helping the Vulcans to the national semifinals.
Woodman and his wife, Kari, have four children, sons Taner, Knox and Brodi and daughter Kinleigh.
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| Season |
Overall Record |
Conf. Record |
| 2013 |
3-7 |
2-7 |
| 2014 |
3-7 |
3-7 |
| 2015 |
6-4 |
6-4 |
| 2016 * |
10-2 |
9-1 |
| 2017 |
8-3 |
8-2 |
| 2018 |
9-2 |
8-2 |
| 2019 |
5-5 |
5-5 |
| 2020-21 ** |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 2021 |
5-6 |
5-5 |
| 2022 |
3-8 |
3-7 |
| Total |
52-44Â (.553) |
49-40Â (.551) |
* earned NCAA Division II Playoff bid
** opted-out of spring 2021 season due to COVID-19
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