Saint Louis Removes Interim Tag on Mary Woods as Head Coach
Saint Louis University on Monday named Mary Woods the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming teams.
Woods takes over for Jim Halliburton, who resigned last August. She had served as the interim head coach for the 2022-23 season.
It’s the fourth year that Woods has been part of the Billikens. She spent two as a graduate assistant before being elevated to full assistant coach.
“I would like to thank Director of Athletics Chris May, Deputy Director of Athletics Dr. Janet Oberle, Associate Director of Athletics for Administration Annie Reis, and SLU President Dr. Fred Pestello for this amazing opportunity to lead the Billiken swimming and diving program,” Woods said in a school press release. “I am so grateful for my time spent at SLU thus far, and I am beyond excited and honored to continue with this team as head coach. I truly believe in the SLU experience and what we can provide our student-athletes from an educational, competition and community-building standpoint. SLU is a very special place to be, and I am so proud to be a part of it.”
“We picked up a lot of momentum over the past season, and I am eager to continue building upon that and further develop our program,” Woods said. “We have a great group of returners and incoming swimmers and divers, and I look forward to discovering what we can accomplish together in this new chapter. Go Billikens!”
Woods is an alum of the Carmel, Indiana, high school powerhouse. She graduated from DePauw University in 2019, a four-year varsity letterwinner and team captain. The breaststroker and IMer set the school record in the 100 individual medley and was part of three school-record relays for the Division III program.
She received her degree in kinesiology and psychology and completed a master’s degree in project management at Saint Louis in 2012.
“Mary did a tremendous job with the swimming and diving teams this year, and we are looking forward to the program’s continued progress and success under her leadership,” director of athletics Chris May said. “Mary’s ability to lead the program with our departmental values of educating, competing and building community, and especially her caring for our student-athletes during a challenging time, will undoubtedly serve our young women and men well.”
The Billikens finished 10th out of 11 women’s teams at A-10s last year and last among eight men’s squads.
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Way to go Mary!!!