Head Coach Jermaine Woods

Jermaine Woods enters his first season as the Norfolk State women’s basketball head coach in 2025-26. He became the seventh head coach in the program’s history on Apr. 7, 2025.

An NSU alum and Norfolk native, Woods brings more than 13 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Spartans, with a resume that includes key leadership roles at multiple Power Four institutions and a proven track record of success in both player development and program elevation.

Woods most recently served as the head coach at Coppin State University for three seasons, where he successfully directed a strategic transformation of the program. Under his leadership, the Eagles recorded their winningest season in over a decade and earned a berth in the WNIT Tournament, claiming a historic victory over Colgate. The win marked the program’s second-ever postseason win.

Woods’ ability to maximize talent was further reflected in four All-MEAC First Team selections, one All-MEAC Second Team honoree, two MEAC Defensive Players of the Year, and a MEAC Sixth Player of the Year during his three-season tenure.

Prior to Coppin State, Woods built a strong reputation as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Wake Forest, Old Dominion, and Virginia Tech.

At Wake Forest, he helped guide the Demon Deacons to back-to-back ACC Tournament wins against North Carolina and Virginia Tech, securing the program’s first winning season in five years during the 2016-17 campaign.

At Old Dominion, Woods helped secure a top 100 ESPN prospect as part of a standout 2016 recruiting class. He also produced the top-ranked recruiting class in the state of Virginia and Conference USA, ranking top 45-nationally.

Woods began his collegiate coaching career at Virginia Tech where he brought in a recruiting class that ranked No. 19 in the nation by ESPNW, marking the highest-rated class in the program’s history at the time.

As a former player, Woods began his collegiate career at Belmont Abbey College before transferring to Christopher Newport University, where he became a D3Hoops.com All-American and a two-time All-South Region selection. He earned All-South Newcomer of the Year honors and broke the program’s 3-point shooting record in consecutive seasons.

Woods spent time as a high school and AAU coach after earning his bachelor’s degree from Norfolk State in 2011. Woods resides in Norfolk with his wife Natasha, son Jeremiah, and daughter Kerrington.