The South Colonie Central School District announced earlier this year two new head coaches for the spring 2022 sports season. Coach Mike Morrissey has been selected as the Head Coach of Colonie Baseball and Layne Woodard has been named Head Coach for Colonie Girls Lacrosse.
“Coach Woodard and Coach Morrissey are both very prepared and competitive individuals that have a great vision for each of their programs, ” said South Colonie Athletic Director Bill Roemer. “They both have coached at a variety of levels and roles in their sports and I look forward to them leading their program alongside our student-athletes.”
Please join the district in welcoming these two to their new roles.
Welcome, Coach Morrissey
Mike Morrissey is no stranger to the South Colonie Central School District. He currently serves as a 7th grade math teacher at Sand Creek Middle School in addition to his coaching responsibilities over the last several years. Prior to being named head coach, Morrissey previously served as the varsity pitching coach at Colonie Central High School for two seasons. In 2021, he helped lead the Raiders to a 4th place finish in the league and reach the Section II Semifinals. Coach Morrissey oversaw the development of the Suburban Council Pitcher of the Year Tyler Sausville, and 1st Team Pitcher selection Quinn Keller.
Prior to Colonie, Morrissey was involved in the baseball program at Shenendehowa High School – first as a player and then as an assistant coach. In his final season as an assistant coach in 2019, Coach Morrissey was on a staff that guided the Plainsmen to the Section II Championship, Regional Championship and advanced to the State Championship game. During his playing career at Shen, Coach Morrissey played alongside 4 MLB Draft Picks and his team set a school record for wins after capturing the Section II Championship, Regional Championship and reaching the State Championship.
Coach Morrissey has also been the Head Coach of the Colonie Raiders and CPH Gators travel teams in the summer and fall seasons, working with a range of age groups from 14U-18U. He has instructed at local camps and clinics, including assisting with showcase events for Prep Baseball Report (NY), is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and has a Driveline Certification in Pitch Design.
Coach Morrissey is a graduate of Siena College and received his Master’s Degree from the University at Albany. Currently, he is a Math Teacher at Sand Creek Middle School.
Welcome, Coach Woodard
Layne Woodard has been working in the South Colonie Central School District for five years and currently serves as a Physical Education teacher at both Colonie Central High School and Sand Creek Middle School.
Prior to her head coach appointment of the varsity lacrosse team, Woodard previously served as the JV head coach of the girls lacrosse team in Colonie from 2013 to 2014 and 2018 to 2021 and currently serves as the varsity girls golf head coach. Other coaching experience includes: coaching the Colonie girls modified basketball team from 2017 to 2019 and serving as the assistant coach to the varsity girls lacrosse team at Shenendehowa high school from 2015 to 2017.
As a player at Greensboro College, she led the nation in draw controls, was first team all-conference, was a three time USA South all-tournament selection and a two-time MVP.
Woodard is in her tenth year of coaching girls lacrosse. In addition to her career coaching at the high school level, Woodard also serves as a coach at Albany Power Lacrosse and works with teams in the summer, fall, and winter seasons, working with a range of age groups. In addition, Woodard hosts and instructs the annual Colonie Girls Lacrosse Camp and other clinics and skill sessions throughout the year. Coach Woodard is also one of the coaches of the Girls 2024 Adirondack Regional Team.
Coach Woodard is a graduate of Greensboro College and received her Master’s Degree from Sage Graduate School.