John Woods is in his ninth year as Athletic Director at Libertyville High School after serving 16 years as Athletic Director at Champaign Central High School. Before entering athletic administration, he taught special education and coached volleyball, basketball, golf, and track and field.

In 2026, John was named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Athletic Director of the Year and was inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame. John earned his CMAA in 2021 and his Mental Performance Mastery Coaching Certification in 2020. He leads Libertyville's Wildcats Will Peak Performance and Leadership Development program, helping student-athletes develop the mindset and leadership skills needed for success in sport and life.

In January 2026, John launched the podcast Brick by Brick: The Championship Playbook, sharing practical strategies for building championship people, teams, and cultures through intentional leadership. A nationally recognized presenter, John authored and teaches a leadership curriculum for the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. As a certified NIAAA Leadership Training Institute instructor, he has taught athletic directors and coaches across 19 states while also presenting at state and national conferences. John founded the Illinois Athletic Directors Association Coaches PD Monthly, providing free professional development to coaches and athletic directors across Illinois.

John is an active leader in the Illinois Athletic Directors Association, having served as President-elect, President, Past President, and currently Treasurer. He also serves on the Hall of Fame Committee and currently represents Division 2 on the Illinois High School Association advisory committee for athletes with disabilities.