CJ Woods, the guy in the tan pants coaching La Conner during this royal rumble, is changing states. (Chloe Marzocca photo)
La Conner’s loss is Arizona’s gain.
The Braves are bidding farewell to CJ Woods, who taught, coached boys’ varsity basketball, and was Athletic Director at the school.
The multi-threat, whose resignation was on the agenda at Monday’s La Conner School Board meeting, will be the new AD and head boys’ hoops coach at Chinle High School.
Located in Apache County in Arizona, it’s the largest school in the Navajo Nation.
Chinle’s basketball program was featured in a six-episode Netflix documentary, Basketball or Nothing, which premiered in 2019.
Woods replaces Raul Mendoza, who retired after a 44-year career, the last seven at Chinle, in which he won more than 800 games.
While his time in La Conner was relatively short for Woods, it was successful.
He led the Braves boys’ basketball team to the District 1/2 title and a trip to the 2B state tourney this past winter, fueled by a postseason upset of top-ranked Coupeville on its home court.
La Conner also added another state volleyball title last fall, with Woods occupying the AD office.
“I really enjoyed my time coaching with La Conner,” he said.
“The boys the past two years were just really fun groups to be around,” Woods added.
“Getting an opportunity to spend time in sharing the game together is what it’s about.
“I’m thankful I was given an opportunity to just learn and grow as a coach and educator.”
Woods, who graduated from Friday Harbor High School and the University of Idaho, is the second Athletic Director to leave the seven-team Northwest 2B/1B League in recent weeks.
He follows in the footsteps of Ryan Wilson, who departed Orcas Island and has relocated with his family to Lake Quinault.
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