Another new name has entered the mix as the Bucs search for their new special teams coordinator. The team announced Tuesday evening that it completed a virtual interview with Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods.
Woods, a former linebacker at the University of Iowa, spent time with the Cardinals (2001-2004), Bears (2005), Lions (2005-2006) and Titans (2006-2007) during his NFL playing career. From there, he joined the Hawkeyes’ coaching staff and has been at his alma mater in some capacity ever since.
After serving as an assistant from 2008-2011, Woods coached linebackers from 2012-2014 and tight ends from 2015-2017. But ever since 2018, he has solely been Iowa’s special teams coordinator. And he’s done the best work of his career in that role.
Iowa has famously been atrocious on offense in recent years, but the team has still won games with defense and special teams. That was on full display during the 2023 season.
Woods coached one of the top special teams units in the country this past season. Punter Tory Taylor saw a lot of work given how bad the offense was, and he did great things with his opportunities. He ultimately earned the Ray Guy Award, was a unanimous consensus All-America and was named Big Ten Punter of the Year for a second time after previously winning it in 2020.
Iowa was No. 1 in the country in net punting (44.17), eighth in kickoff return defense (15.6) and 10th in blocked kicks (3). Kickers Drew Stevens and Marshall Meeder came through with game-winning kicks during the season as well, while return specialist Cooper DeJean was named Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.
Could Bucs Pull Another Coordinator From College Ranks?
The Bucs found their new offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, in the college ranks as he spent last season as the University of Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. Could they soon find their new special teams coordinator from the college level as well? It’s worth noting that Woods hasn’t coached at the NFL level like Coen already had, but he’s still done some outstanding work in the Big Ten.
Woods clearly has deep ties to Iowa, as he has coached there for 16 seasons after playing his college ball for the Hawkeyes. There’s likely to be a sentimental pull to remain in Iowa City, but perhaps the soon-to-be 46-year-old will want to try his hand at translating the magic he’s worked with his alma mater’s special teams to the professional level.
The Bucs’ special teams coordinator job would seem to be an attractive opening, as they have a promising young punter in Jake Camarda and — assuming he re-signs — a reliable kicker in Chase McLaughlin. Add in speedy options like Deven Thompkins and Trey Palmer to return kicks and a smart group of players to cover kicks and punts and the pieces are there.
The other thing working in the favor of the future Bucs special teams coordinator — whether it’s Woods or another candidate — is that there would seem to be a low bar to clear. During his Tampa Bay tenure, Keith Armstrong’s special teams units certainly weren’t all that great, so whoever the new voice in the room ends up being could quickly improve that area of the game for Todd Bowles’ team.
Woods is the Bucs’ sixth special teams coordinator interviewee, joining in-house option Keith Tandy, former Titans coordinator Craig Ackerman, former Giants coordinator Thomas McGaughey, Saints assistant special teams coordinator Phil Galiano and former Seahawks coordinator Larry Izzo.
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