| Sparky Woods | |
| Birth Date: | 20 December 1953 |
| Birth Place: | Oneida, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1973–1975 |
| Player Team1: | Carson–Newman |
| Player Positions: | Quarterback, defensive back |
| Coach Years1: | 1976 |
| Coach Team1: | Tennessee (assistant) |
| Coach Years2: | 1977 |
| Coach Team2: | Kansas (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 1978 |
| Coach Team3: | North Alabama (DB) |
| Coach Years4: | 1979–1982 |
| Coach Team4: | Iowa State (WR) |
| Coach Years5: | 1983 |
| Coach Team5: | Appalachian State (OC/QB/RB) |
| Coach Years6: | 1984–1988 |
| Coach Team6: | Appalachian State |
| Coach Years7: | 1989–1993 |
| Coach Team7: | South Carolina |
| Coach Years8: | 1994 |
| Coach Team8: | New York Jets (OA) |
| Coach Years9: | 1995–1996 |
| Coach Team9: | Memphis (OC/QB) |
| Coach Years10: | 1997–1998 |
| Coach Team10: | Virginia (OC/QB) |
| Coach Years11: | 1999–2002 |
| Coach Team11: | Mississippi State (OC/QB) |
| Coach Years12: | 2003–2006 |
| Coach Team12: | Alabama (RB) |
| Coach Years13: | 2008–2014 |
| Coach Team13: | VMI |
| Coach Years14: | 2015–2016 |
| Coach Team14: | Richmond (RB/RC) |
| Coach Years15: | 2017–2018 |
| Coach Team15: | Richmond (RB/co-STC) |
| Coach Years16: | 2019–2023 |
| Coach Team16: | North Carolina (Adviser) |
| Overall Record: | 80–108–5 |
| Tournament Record: | 2–2 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Championships: | 2 SoCon (1986–1987) |
| Awards: | 3× Southern Conference Coach of the Year (1985–1987) |
Phillip Perry "Sparky" Woods (born December 20, 1953) is an American football coach. He was most recently a senior adviser for the football team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Woods served as the head football coach at Appalachian State University from 1984 to 1988, the University of South Carolina from 1989 to 1993, and the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), from 2008 to 2014.
Woods attended Oneida High School, where he is in its Hall of Fame. He holds the record for the most interceptions in a season. He played quarterback and defensive back at Carson–Newman College before graduating in 1976.
Woods was named the 30th head coach at VMI on February 13, 2008.[1] Before arriving at VMI, Woods had over 30 years of college and professional coaching experience.
When coaching at South Carolina, a song about Woods entitled "Sparky Rock" was released on cassette tape.
On November 24, 2014, it was announced by VMI that Woods' contract would not be renewed by Athletic Director Dave Diles.[2] The announcement came less than a day after a 45–25 loss to arch rival The Citadel, ending a 2–10 season for the Keydets. In seven seasons, Woods compiled a 17–62 record at VMI, including a mark of 9–32 in conference play.
On February 20, 2015, he was named running backs coach, recruiting coordinator, and associate head coach, at the University of Richmond.[3]
In 2019, Woods joined Mack Brown's staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a senior adviser to Brown.[4]
Woods and his wife, Jean Ann, have two children, a daughter, Emily, and a son, Casey who is on the SMU football staff. [5]