Chris Woods serves as Head Track & Field Coach for Mississippi State University's Track and Field program in Starkville, Mississippi. Chris Woods was named head coach of the track and field program on June 14, 2019. Most recently, Woods coached Arop to the 800m bronze medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
In his six years as head coach, Woods has directly overseen 27 NCAA finalists, 60 All-American honors, four SEC Champions and six Olympians. Arop has seen multiple accolades under Woods’ tutelage, including the 2023 World Champion title, the 2022 World Championship bronze, multiple Diamond League golds, the Pan-American Games title, and multiple national and North American records in the 800m and 1000m.
