Colby College

Jesse Woods enters his eighth season as head coach of the Colby Baseball program in the 2025-26 academic year. He has led a remarkable transformation of the program since his arrival in 2019. Under Coach Woods' leadership, Colby Baseball has become a rising force in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and on the national stage of NCAA Division III Baseball.

Coach Woods guided the Mules to an NCAA Tournament At-Large Selection and a NESCAC East Division Regular Season first place finish along with multiple appearances in regional and national rankings. Coach Woods has been recognized across the baseball community, earning him D3baseball.com, ABCA, and MCBSA Regional, Coach of the Year honors. The team also maintained a strong GPA each year, demonstrating a program commitment to academic excellence, alongside athletic success.

Under his tenure, the program has also:
•    Set records three times for most win in a season
•    Produced the program's first All-American (Cole Palmeri) since 1979 
•    Produced MLB Signee (Brady O’Brien, Seattle Mariners)
•    Achieved four consecutive NESCAC Tournament appearances and host selections
•    Produced 18 NESCAC All-Conference selections, multiple All-Region honorees
•    Led the NESCAC in team ERA (2023) and Batting Average (2024)
•    Achieved the program’s first-ever DIII regional ranking 
•    Maintained six consecutive winning seasons

Beyond Colby, Coach Woods has served as an Assistant Coach for the Harwich Mariners in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League since 2021, working primarily with position players, and assisting with offensive strategies and game management. He was a part of the Cape Cod Baseball League Championship team in 2024. 

Prior to Colby, Woods served as an assistant coach and co-recruiting coordinator at University of Notre Dame (2010–2018), where he helped lead the team to a 2015 NCAA Regional appearance and recruited multiple MLB Draft picks as well coached 10 MLB players in eight seasons. His earlier coaching stops include Boston College (2007–2010)—where he was part of the 2009 NCAA Regional team and coached four MLB players in three years. In his time at Wheaton College, where he helped the team reach the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championship Game as well as three consecutive NCAA Regional appearances. To date Coach Woods has coached over 20 players who have made their way to the big leagues. 

Woods also has a background in education, having served in Boston Public Schools as a certified K–5 Physical Education teacher, where he was recognized for curriculum development and student wellness initiatives. He is also a member of the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee, contributing to the long-term vision and governance of collegiate baseball nationwide.

A graduate of Wheaton College (MA) with a B.A. in History, Coach Woods and his wife, Danielle, are the proud parents of Caden (11) and Atley (6).