One day in 1969, while serving as an assistant coach to David "Bucky" Pitts at Cookeville High School in Tennessee, Don Woods found himself following Pitts across the state line into Alabama, bound for a small town called Hartselle. It was to be the perfect setting for a 28-year coaching career.

Coach Woods served as an assistant from 1969-79 until he was named as the head football coach in 1979.

Hartselle lost to Charles Henderson of Troy 14-7 in the state 3A title game of 1980. The next year the Tigers again made the championship round, falling to Eufaula 39-20.

Except for the 1986 season, Hartselle continued to make the football playoffs throughout Woods tenure. The school moved up to Class 5A in 1984 and 6A in 1994. The Tigers posted a 5-6 record in 1996, the only losing mark under Woods and the schools first season under .500 since 1977.

Coach Woods resigned following the 1996 season after 11 years as an assistant and 17 more as the head football coach at Hartselle. While he was the Hartselle head coach, the Tigers won 137 games and lost just 64, twice played for the state championship, made the playoffs in all but one season and averaged nearly nine wins.

His playoff record is a respectable 15-16. His teams won nine area and region titles over the years. Woods was a two time president of the states coaches association.