By Derek Levarse

dlevarse@timesleader.com

Trevor Woodruff stepped down as Misericordia’s men’s basketball head coach on Thursday to take over as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Scranton.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Woodruff-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgTrevor Woodruff stepped down as Misericordia’s men’s basketball head coach on Thursday to take over as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Scranton.

It was never going to be an easy decision. But Trevor Woodruff is confident that it was the right one.

Five months after leading the Misericordia men’s basketball team to the NCAA Division III tournament, Woodruff is leaving his alma mater. The University of Scranton officially introduced him as its new women’s hoops coach on Thursday.

“It’s bittersweet,” Woodruff said in a phone interview. “Obviously it’s hard to say goodbye to something you’ve spent your professional life building — trying to build a winner and trying to do the things right way.

“Saying goodbye to all of that is a difficult, difficult thing. But I’m choosing to look from a perspective of what I’m looking toward as opposed to what I’m walking away from.”

His contributions to the Cougars as both a coach and player over the years will be remembered fondly at the school.

“I want to thank Trevor for his outstanding contributions to Misericordia basketball, the overall athletic program, and the university,” new Cougars athletic director Chuck Edkins said in a statement. “He has given of himself to Misericordia as both a student-athlete and professional. That is a true testament to his belief and passion for MU.

“We understand that this decision was difficult for him, but in the best interest of him and his family.”

Woodruff rejoins his mentor and long-time boss Dave Martin in the Electric City. When Martin stepped down as Cougars men’s basketball coach to become the athletic director in 2004, he hired Woodruff, one of his former players, to replace him.

Martin also left Misericordia this month to take over as athletic director for the Royals. Now he’s hiring Woodruff for a second time.

“He is a great leader who has tremendous character and a strong work ethic,” Martin said in a release. “He understands the Division III philosophy and the value of Jesuit, Catholic higher education. He is the perfect choice to carry on the history and tradition of what is Lady Royals basketball.”

Woodruff must follow in the footsteps of legendary coach Mike Strong, whose 815 career wins are most in Division III women’s basketball history. Strong retired in 2014 with Wilkes-Barre native Deanna Klingman coaching the Lady Royals last season under an interim title.

That tradition and history — highlighted by a 1985 national championship — is what appealed to Woodruff, who said he applied for the job earlier this summer before he knew Martin was also considering making the jump to Scranton.

“Having him there was the icing on the cake,” said Woodruff, who lives just a few miles away from Scranton’s campus in Dunmore. “Certainly that made what I consider a tremendous opportunity even better, if that’s possible. I look forward to having him continue to mentor me. Scranton was very smart to hire him.”

With Misericordia players beginning to arrive on campus and fall classes starting Monday, the school will likely move quickly to name a replacement and prepare for the 2015-16 season.

The new coach will be building on a foundation established by Martin and Woodruff that saw the program become a full NCAA program and, ultimately, a consistent conference title contender.

While leading his alma mater for 11 seasons, Woodruff helped the program transition from the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference to the MAC Freedom Conference.

In that time, the Cougars became one of the league’s most successful programs, qualifying for the conference tournament in each of the last six seasons. Misericordia won the Freedom championship in 2011-12 and 2014-15 to claim the team’s first two NCAA tournament berths.

Woodruff finished his Cougars coaching career at 169-142. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Lackawanna College and Delaware Valley High School.

But this will be he first job coaching the women’s game.

“I’ve met several girls on the team and that first meeting couldn’t have went any better,” Woodruff said. “I have every reason to think it’ll be a great relationship. … This is the only women’s job in the country that I would have considered taking.”

Regardless of what happens next, Woodruff said Misericordia will always be part of him as a coach and a person.

“I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished,” Woodruff said. “The response I’ve gotten from alums, former players, and parents has just been incredible. It really helps to solidify that we did things the right way. I’m comfortable that we’re leaving the program in good shape. The talent level is very high. The program is built to win.

“I owe a lot of my success to the people who helped develop me there. I’m always going to be a Misericordia alum. It’s always going to be my school. And I’m always going to be a part of that family.”

Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse