DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman University on Monday named Raymond Woodie Jr. the 16th head coach of the college’s football program, Director of Athletics Reggie Theus announced.

Woodie, 49, is a four-year letter-winner as a linebacker and a 1996 graduate of then-Bethune-Cookman College.

What You Need To Know

  • Raymond Woodie Jr. becomes Bethune-Cookman's 16th head football coach

  • He replaces Terry Sims, who was fired last year after going 38-39 in seven seasons

  • Woodie is a former player for the football program

  • He has experience as an assistant at FAU, FSU. Oregon and USF

He previously has been an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University (2020-22), Florida State University (2018-19), the University of Oregon (2017) and the University of South Florida (2013-16). Woodie was most recently the associate head coach at Florida Atlantic and worked primarily with special teams and was recruiting coordinator for the Owls.

Woodie replaces Terry Sims, who was fired after going 38-39 in seven seasons at the historically Black university.

“We are elated to have Raymond Woodie Jr. return to Bethune-Cookman University to lead our storied football program,” Director of Athletics Reggie Theus said. “We felt confident in his experience, his leadership, and his ability to embrace the spirit of our founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in this 100th year of B-CU football. We are locked in the vision for providing a championship culture through his detailed plan for recruiting academically talented student athletes, along with a sustained desire to provide a high-level experience. It’s evidently clear why Coach Woodie has had terrific success in his journey, and we look forward to his return to Daytona Beach and starting this new era.”

Woodie takes over after a deal fell through to sign Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed. The college had reached an agreement in principle to sign Reed but did not ratify it after he criticized B-CU in a profanity-laced social media post that went viral, accusing the school of having a dirty campus and failing to clean his office before he arrived.

B-CU’s decision not to complete his hiring and concerns he helped raise about living conditions sparked protests from some B-CU students last week. Interim President Lawrence M. Drake II, Ph.D., last week said the college has spent the past seven months analyzing campus facilities and determined that about 60 of them need work. Drake pledged that the school would get the work completed.

“A new era at Bethune-Cookman University begins today,” Interim President Lawrence M. Drake II, Ph.D., said. “Word of our pending new leadership has been hard to contain, so we are thrilled to officially welcome Raymond back home to Bethune-Cookman University. Throughout our search process, we stressed the need for a leader who understands our university’s history, traditions, and values, in addition to possessing firm athletic leadership prowess. Coach Woodie embodies each of these qualities.”