Former Booker High athletic director, football coach under investigation

Carlos Woods, former athletic director and football coach at Booker High School, is involved in an active criminal investigation by the Sarasota Police Department.

The investigation, which is in response to allegations SPD received from an outside agency, is ongoing. The department issued a statement saying, "At this time, this criminal investigation involving Mr. Woods does not involve any harm or wrongdoings toward any students." SPD said it was unable to provide any further information as of Wednesday afternoon. 

Woods, who wrapped up his first season last year with the school, was dismissed late last week. 

Booker Principal Jamal Crook did not respond to multiple requests for comment by the Observer on the reason for Woods' dismissal. The Observer was told by Cheraina Williams, administrative assistant to the principal, the school had "no comment at this time" on Wednesday morning.

A public records request on Woods' dismissal with Sarasota County Schools was denied under statute F.S. 1012.31 (3)(a) (1), which says complaints and material relating to an ongoing investigation of a complaint against an employee are confidential.

Woods denied any criminal wrongdoing in a phone call to the Observer on Tuesday and gave no reason for his dismissal. In his response, and without being prompted by a question, Woods also said he “never touched money” at Booker.

Woods' name has been tied to alleged housing and recruiting violations in the past.

In 2017, while Woods was an assistant for Gavilan College's football team in California, the Hollister Free Lance reported 17 of the team's players lived in a three-bedroom house and entered into a deal with the homeowner for meals and bedding.

Those players were ultimately deemed ineligible and chose not return to the school. Gavilan College also imposed a two-year postseason ban and three years' probation for the football program.

Two years later, when Woods was football coach at Pierce College in California, he was placed on administrative leave following a report from campus newspaper The Roundup detailing allegations he charged players hundreds of dollars a month to live in the team locker room and also made arrangements for as many as 30 of his players to live in an off-campus, three-bedroom apartment. According to the report, Woods allegedly also collected rent from the student-athletes, but failed to pay the bills, resulting in their eviction.

The college's athletic department also investigated accusations Woods recruited out-of-state players — prohibited at the time by the California Community College Athletic Association — and allowed ineligible players to compete. Pierce College did not immediately return calls and emails for comment on Wednesday morning for how the allegations were resolved.

In the wake of Woods’ dismissal, there was a mass exodus of players from the Tornadoes’ football program to join programs at other high schools. At least 20 transferred. 

Rising senior defensive lineman Maleek Lee — a Georgia Tech commit — transferred to Palmetto High. 

Quarterback Mason Summer was in position to be the Tornadoes’ starter. He's now with Southeast High for his senior season.

Jordan Booker, a rising senior defensive back committed to Georgia State, transferred to Venice High.

Booker said the school didn’t give players or their families a reason for Woods’ dismissal.

“They weren’t really telling us,” Booker said Tuesday. “They were keeping it on the low. That’s another reason why I left.”

Booker learned under Woods in all three past seasons of his high school football career — including when Woods was the defensive coordinator from 2022-24 before his tenure as coach.

“I wouldn’t knock Coach Woods at all, because that’s my guy," Booker said. "He did a lot of things for the community and the kids.”

Angie Byrd, the Booker girls volleyball coach and former assistant athletic director, will serve as athletic director moving forward.

As for the football team, which made its third consecutive trip to the state semifinals in 2025, they will have a third coach in as many seasons this fall. 

The school is “actively searching for a new head coach” and “all football operations will continue as planned,” Sarasota County Schools said in an emailed statement. No interim coach has been named.

Booker's season is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 against four-time state champion Venice at home.