Truman State University head men’s basketball coach Matt Woodley has announced his resignation, as the third-year head coach accepted an assistant coaching position with the Iowa Energy, an NBA Development League program owned and operated by the Memphis Grizzlies NBA franchise.

In three seasons at the helm of the Bulldog program, the Iowa-native posted a 38-44 overall record but improved the team’s win total in each of his three seasons. After winning eight games in 2011-12, the Bulldogs won 10 games and earned an MIAA tournament berth in 2012-13. He then guided the program to just the sixth 20-win season in school history with a 20-7 run last season, capped by a GLVC tournament berth. In addition, the team’s 13 conference wins last season set a new program record.

"Words cannot express how much this institution has meant to my family and me," Woodley said. "The whole Truman community opened its arms to us and gave me an opportunity to run my own basketball program. I will forever be indebted to Mr. Wollmering and Dr. Paino for this great opportunity. The players I coached have meant the world to me, as they bought into a vision and never questioned what we were doing. I have always said that a program is only as good as the character of the players within it, and the guys in this program have gone above and beyond my expectations. For that, they will always be like sons to my wife and me. I am excited about my new endeavor into professional basketball, as it has always been a dream of mine to coach at the highest level."

The Energy will enter this season as a hybrid single affiliation with the Grizzlies, after most recently serving as a developmental program for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, and Washington Wizards since the 2012-13 season. Last year, the Energy went 31-19 and finished first in the NBA D-League Central Division.

"We want to thank Matt for his commitment to the Truman State University basketball program for the past three and a half years," Wollmering said. "He brought excitement back to Bulldog basketball on game day and helped play a key role in Truman’s first-year success in the GLVC. We wish Matt and his family the very best in his new role with the Iowa Energy."

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