“I am delighted to join the Rattler family,” said Wood. “After
meeting with Interim AD [Nelson Townsend] and President [Elmira Mangum], I am
thoroughly convinced that working together with Board of Trustees, students,
faculty, alumni, and supporters that I can build a competitive football program
that will play a positive role in helping FAMU enhance its brand and achieve
its mission of becoming a best-in-class academic institution.”
The university will officially introduce Wood as the new
leader of its football program during a press conference scheduled for 3:00
p.m.
“When President Mangum tasked me with completing the search
for a head coach with a proven record of developing a competitive program,
possessing high moral and ethical character, capacity to inspire our student
-athletes, and the capabilities to take the program in a new direction, one of
the first persons that came to mind was Alex Wood,” Townsend said. “The stars
aligned perfectly for FAMU to get a coach of the caliber of Alex,” added
Townsend.
Wood brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to
FAMU, including three years as the head coach of James Madison University and
stints on the coaching staffs of three NFL teams.
“I applaud the ability of Interim AD Townsend to swiftly,
yet carefully and deliberately, complete the search for a new head coach,” Mangum
said. “Moreover, I commend him for identifying a person with the capabilities
and integrity of Alex Wood.”