RedHawk to Eagle: Dustin Woods’ journey to the Super Bowl

Dustin Woods, former Miami University football player and graduate of 2009, has become yet another alumnus to work for a Super Bowl-winning team.

As the interpersonal performance director and associate strength and conditioning coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, Woods worked closely with Super Bowl LIX champion and MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts for this year’s Lombardi Trophy.

A Cincinnati native, Woods attended Purcell Marian High School, where he played just two years of high school football before continuing his athletic career at Miami.

As a younger athlete, only 17 at the time, Woods had the opportunity to catch up with the rest of his class. Shortly after arriving in Oxford, he met Sean McVay, the Los Angeles Rams’ head coach, who provided extensive guidance and support to Woods, a less experienced player at the time.

“When I came in January, I didn’t really know the game of football, and we were both competing to get on the field,” Woods said. “I knew how to run and catch, but he was humble enough and confident enough to teach me the game of football just as he is doing now even though we were competing to get on the field. He did not hold back; he taught me how to understand the game and everything I needed to know. I really respected that.”

Woods described himself as introverted off the field. He joined Athletes in Action, an organization that promotes a relationship with God for athletes. He often led Bible studies for team members looking to grow their faith and was also a part of the RedHawk Council, a student athlete advisory council.

Beyond being on the football field and remaining dedicated to his religion, Woods found himself spending time with friends in the dorms, and recalled one of his fondest memories at Miami being at Goggin Ice Center.

“I went to one hockey game, and even that was a stretch for me,” Woods said. “I thought it was one of the greatest experiences in the sports world, and it was right here in Miami. I had never been to a hockey game before, but it was an environment that I never knew about.”

In addition to that, Woods remained serious about his physical health and sports career, majoring in kinesiology and health.

Woods spent much of his remaining free time visiting his now wife and participating in a church band at home playing the drums.

After graduating, the four-year letter winner took his degree back home, where he found work in strength and conditioning with his brother. He also worked at Ignition Athletic Performance Group, a company that hosted NFL combine training for local and national athletes.

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Photo by provided by Dustin Woods | The Miami Student
Dustin Woods stands at practice with the Philadelphia Eagles

In 2011, he left to work for the Chinese Olympic Skating Association as a short track head strength and conditioning coach. During this time, he attended two Olympics, the first in Russia at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and then South Korea at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

Woods returned to the US as a strength and conditioning coach at Xavier University from 2014-16 before he returned to the skating association.

Following his time in China, Woods received an offer from McVay to work in Los Angeles as the Rams’ assistant strength and conditioning coach. While he never had his eye set on the NFL, the opportunity came at the right time.

“The experience working with [McVay] was exactly what I said it was: the standard,” Woods said. “It was a great entry to learn how to run an organization and be a very elite coach, handle day to day tasks and learn relational intelligence. It was really influential for me and great for my career.”

During his time with the Rams, Woods saw the team make the playoffs each year from 2018 to 2020. The coaching experience with McVay was invaluable to Woods, but a new opportunity lay ahead.

With three children, Woods wanted to relocate closer to Cinicinnati after spending 10 years away from home. An opportunity with the Eagles made this possible.

In February of 2021, Woods took on a new role as associate strength and conditioning coach. After two seasons, he was promoted to his current position with the help of Hurts.

“Jalen is very in tune with his interpersonal self, and we connected on that level,” Woods said. “We see a lot of things the same, and we enjoy having the same conversations so he wanted me to be with him all year round and during the off season.”

Following this request, the Eagles organization allowed Woods to travel with Hurts, assisting in all of his training, outside of working with the team as a whole.

“This past season I was with him all day everyday, he was my priority in the building,” Woods said. “While I did have other responsibilities, I made myself available to him as much as he needed.”

The two, sharing a passion for spiritual development and interpersonal connections, grew a connection quickly. Their hard work paid off with a Super Bowl ring, Hurts’ first.

“I am not the one playing, but I am on the journey,” Woods said. “I see everything [Hurts] goes through that people don’t know, and the strength he has to have in the face of adversity and knowing how his mind works is great. Seeing the success that he had at the right time for me was great, and I am more excited to see how he handles the success and what kind of man he can become, and that is really encouraging for me.”

Woods said he hopes the team can respond well to the success next season. For now, he prioritizes time with family as his kids are growing up and are beginning to understand the game of football.

Looking back on his time at Miami, Woods shows his gratitude and respect for the university, as well as the values he learned as a student athlete.

“Miami is filled with potential success all around you,” Woods said. “I would always encourage students at any age to take off their headphones and walk with their eyes up.”

lubyhj@miamioh.edu