Oh, baby! This VU coach needs an exit strategy

Ronnie Woodard’s game plan for Vanderbilt’s soccer opener Friday against Mercer includes an exit strategy.

That’s because Woodard and her husband Tom are expecting their first child together, and their son (Thomas Woodard IV) is liable to come at any time. Friday is the due date, which means she and her staff have had to consider scenarios beyond just what type of formation their opponent might use.

“My trainer and I have a plan,” she said. “We’re going to keep it as quiet as possible, my trainer is going to call my husband and he’ll meet me in the parking lot so we can go to the hospital. …We’re trying to make it as discreet as possible.”

Woodard’s preference actually is to not miss any game time.

If her son’s arrival is delayed through the weekend (Vanderbilt also hosts Murray State on Sunday), arrangements already have been made to induce labor on Tuesday. That way Woodard can be back on the sideline Friday when the Commodores play Belmont.

“I really have to credit my two assistant coaches — they have been fabulous,” she said. “They’ve allowed me to be able to take care of myself and the baby-to-be and still do my job effectively. I got through two-a-days and all of preseason camp and I didn’t miss a practice.”

Obviously, though, she did not consult a schedule until after she became pregnant.

“We found out at six weeks … on Dec. 23,” she said. “Right away I looked at a schedule and thought this could not be worse timing. But given my age – I’m almost 40 – we decided it was a blessing, and that’s exactly what it’s been. … The team is so excited and Vanderbilt has been so cooperative.”

TSU volleyball team to meet fans

Tennessee State’s volleyball team will host a meet and greet 6 p.m. Wednesday in the faculty dining hall of the Floyd Payne Campus Center.

The event is open to students, faculty, staff and supporters. All team members and coaches as well as other members of the athletics department will attend.