Chandler district names field after legendary coach
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Mike Woods and his wife Ellen pose with a proclamation renaming the Hamilton High School baseball field in Mike Woods’ honor at the June 10 Chandler Unified Governing Board meeting. Woods, who retired this spring after almost 30 years as Hamilton’s baseball coach, led the varsity to 10 state titles and helped hundreds of players succeed in baseball beyond high school.
Mike Woods is the only baseball coach Hamilton High School’s ever had.
He’s probably stuck around so long partly because his Huskies kept on winning.
Woods retired from coaching this spring after a storied career in which he led Hamilton to 10 state titles, including the 6A title in May. He’s been recognized for his career success in several ways, including the Chandler Unified Governing Board agreeing to name the Hamilton varsity baseball diamond as Mike Woods Field.
Woods coached at Hamilton since it opened almost 30 years ago and worked for the district for 36 years. He said assistant coaches and administrators were critical, but it was the players who made the pitches, catches and hits that won championships.
“It takes a team,” Woods told Superintendent Frank Narducci upon receiving a framed proclamation of the renaming at the June 10 CUSD board meeting. “I reap a lot of the benefits, but it’s the boys and other people doing work, too.”
Woods’ program accomplishments include not only the 10 titles, spread over 23 seasons, but also 13 total state title game appearances, 92 postseason victories, 25 consecutive state tournament appearances.
Five Huskies have been Gatorade Arizona Players of the Year under Woods.
There have been more than 150 players have gone on to play college baseball, including 57 Division 1 players, more than 35 players drafted or signed professionally and five Major League players, most notably Cody Bellinger.
The Huskies’ 2026 title win was particularly rewarding. In addition to being Woods’ final season, the Huskies bounced back from an 0-3 start to win 22 of its last 29 games, capped by a 10-7 triumph over Corona del Sol in the 6A title game.
Woods was recently inducted into both the Arizona High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame and the National High School Baseball Hall of Fame.
The district recently hired Greg Bordes to replace Woods. Bordes, an Arizona State alum and former minor leaguer, worked at Grand Canyon University and the University of Arizona before his most-recent role coaching at Crismon High School.
Woods said he’s grateful for the support of his wife, Ellen, who helped him receive his award June 10, and his children, Chelsea and Connor.
He also praised the district for also honoring athletic trainer Lance Michel, for whom the Hamilton fieldhouse will be named. The CUSD board also made this presentation at the June 10 meeting.
“It’s pretty special to recognize all the people behind the scenes,” Woods said.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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