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>> HUTCHINSON: We needed someone who had tremendous integrity,
tremendous energy, passion for Morehead State University,
passion for Kentucky, passion for basketball,
and passion about being part of an environment that
provided every opportunity we could provide to have success.
Whenever you begin to have success in a program, you begin to think about,
alright, if this were to stop one day, say the coach leaves, and you have to
identify people that may fit a profile , that you would want to take over,
Sean Woods was definitely on that list, and has been for a while.
We’re absolutely tickled to death that he also had some interest in our position.
In many respects it’s home, and we are absolutely tickled to death,
to welcome our thirteenth head men’s basketball coach
to Morehead State University; Sean Woods.
[APPLAUSE]
>>HUTCHINSON: Thank you
>> WOODS: Thank you
First of all, it’s a blessing to come home,
and I want to thank Dr. Andrews and Brian
for actually having, the trust and faith… for me to take over a job that
Donny Tyndall did such a good job at, and actually put Morehead State University
on the map regionally and nationally.
And it’s just an honor to come back home and do something that I love to do.
You’re looking at a guy who played at the University of Kentucky;
You’re looking at a guy who has success, But that’s not Sean Woods.
You know, Sean Woods played at the University of Kentucky.
That’s my past, that’s what got me, you know,
the name Sean Woods, but that’s not who Sean Woods is.
Sean Woods is a basketball coach who has passion,
and thinks he’s just as good as anybody in the United States
at doing this type of deal.
[APPLAUSSE]
>>HUTCHINSON: I’ve hired a lot of head coaches,
I’ve been athletic director for almost eight years,
and so after you’ve done this a couple of times
you begin to look for characteristics.
For me, energy, passion, integrity are the first three places we start.
We didn’t talk very much at all about style of play,
we didn’t talk about recruiting philosophy that much,
I mean we touch on all those things because of due diligence,
but it certainly wasn’t the decision making things for- in my thought process.
>> WOODS: And just so you know, I called Brian before he called me…
to let you know how interested and how passionate I was
about coming to be Morehead State’s new basketball coach.
It was an opportunity of a lifetime at this stage in my career,
no doubt about it.
And it was probably the best Mother’s Day gift
I could ever give my wife, bringing her back to the state of Kentucky.
She’s been a trooper for me, I mean, I’ve taken her all over the country,
and she’s sacrificed a lot for my career.
>> MRS. WOODS: I’m very proud of him, you know, he put a lot of work into
getting this far, and you know, it’s not been easy, and you know,
along the way.
So I’m very, very happy for him and his accomplishments.
>> WOODS: You’re not gonna meet a person more energetic, more personable,
okay, more passionate about what he’s doing.
And my thing is, I’ve always wanted to be a bus driver,
or a RV driver, and I always like to take people on a great ride.
So when you get off the ride, you’re always gonna remember
to shake my hand. You don’t have to put no money
in the deal, but you are gonna enjoy yourself.
And always remember that, I am Sean Woods,
the head men’s basketball coach at Morehead State University.
I am not Sean Woods, who was a basketball player who played
at the University of Kentucky, has everybody got that?
I come here to piggyback on what Donny did,
but I come actually, because there’s one guy
who actually took this place somewhere that it’s never been before,
and it hasn’t been done in years.
And Wayne Martin, when he took them
to the NCAA tournament two years in a row…
my goal is to do that and beyond.
And with you all’s help, not just by myself,
but with everyone’s help… I think we can get that done.
You’ve got the right guy, I promise you.
>> MARTIESE: His passion for basketball, he loves the game, he loves winning,
he loves seeing his players like, do well on the court,
and also off the court, and they can just see a person
that works hard , and that’s dedicated to basketball,
and dedicated to the people around Morehead State University.
>> DESEAN: He has… a lot of accomplishments…
I think…some of his players
have gone overseas…
And ,I think are going to be very successful
from where they, from what coach they‘ve came from.
>> WOODS: You know I met my wife here, the second day
I got to the University of Kentucky , and we’ve been together ever since.
And her family and mine has bonded so much, that we’re so tight
that you know that now that she gets to see them
on a regular basis, means a lot to her and myself.
>> MRS. WOODS: He’s very hard working…
He misses a lot of dinner ‘cause he’s always at work.
He’s just very passionate about his job and his kids,
so he fights very hard For his basketball players,
and his program.
>> WOODS: Everywhere I’ve been we’ve made some type of history,
and I don’t plan on it stopping right now. I plan on, you know with you all’s help,
and the support…
taking this not only to the NCAA tournament,
not only… being one of the top teams in the OVC,
but being a major player, Making this the Gonzaga of the South,
making this something that’s national, not just for Kentucky and Louisville.
[APPLAUSE]