DBU Welcomes Coach Marcus Wood as Women's Head Soccer Coach

"DBU's mission to produce Christ-centered servant-leaders resonates deeply with me. The women's soccer student-athletes are driven and motivated. Serving each of them in some small way is very fulfilling. I have coached many doctors, lawyers, teachers, business professionals, and veterinarians and I am very proud of each of them. I have coached many moms, who are incredible leaders at home and in their community. I am deeply grateful for each relationship I've been able to grow."

Dallas Baptist University strives to create Champions for Christ. That goal wouldn't be possible without the encouragement and leadership of coaches like Marcus Wood who love the Lord and are committed to excellence on and off the field. Coach Wood has recently joined the Patriot family as our Women's Head Soccer Coach and is eager to pour into his team and see everything the Patriots will accomplish in the seasons to come.

Originally from Bettendorf, Iowa, Marcus grew up alongside his two younger brothers. His father, an accountant and ordained minister, and mother modeled what it looked like to be a devoted follower of Christ. The family attended Bettendorf Christian Church where Marcus's father served as an Elder and both of his parents taught Sunday School. "Our family experienced love in action through our church," he shares.

Marcus came to know Christ after attending a church camp when he was twelve, "but many years of falling in love with God's Word led to that moment," he says. Marcus was baptized by his father, as were his two brothers later on.

"Sports have always been a part of my life," Coach Wood shares. "I was only really reachable and teachable through sports." Throughout high school, Marcus played soccer and focused on becoming a collegiate student-athlete. "I gave a lot to soccer as I developed my skills and insight. To this day I relate to our college student-athletes because I understand their journey and their struggles."

Coach Wood obtained his undergraduate degree in Business Marketing at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. During this time, the Lord began to stir Marcus's heart. "I graduated from Olivet with my mind made up that I wished to use my life for Christ," he says. "Up until that point, my faith was not very deep. It mattered that I had Christian professors and coaches, but the biggest influence was my peers. I had multiple peers who really 'walked the walk' and gave me a stronger desire to live a more genuinely Christian life." After graduating from Illinois, Coach Wood went on to complete his Master's in Exercise Science at Hardin-Simmons University.

Prior to coming to DBU, Coach Wood worked at three additional Baptist universities throughout his career as a collegiate coach. He first served as a Graduate Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and later as an Assistant Coach at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Most recently, Coach Wood held the Head Women's Soccer Coach position at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where he worked for 22 years.

After spending the last five months at DBU, Coach Wood looks forward to serving our university's student-athletes as they continue to pursue their goals. "Everyone involved with the women's soccer team has been incredible," Coach Wood says. "Our staff of Cory Marr, Anna Jobe, Stef Van Meerveld, Dave Trevino, and Courtney Pinson have all had a positive impact on me, and the student-athletes are remarkable."

Marcus married his wife Kelley on December 17, 2005, in St. Louis, Missouri. Together, the Woods have two children: a 14-year-old daughter named Kamryn and a 10-year-old son named Alex. Marcus has had the opportunity to baptize both of his kids, just as his father did for Marcus and his brothers. The Woods plan to make their permanent move from Abilene to Midlothian this summer.

"God has called the Wood family out of a very comfortable space. It will be awesome to watch the story unfold to see what God has in mind for each of us," Coach Wood shares. "Our family journey at DBU is getting started."