Chris Woolard
Men’s Basketball General Manager
1st season at Arkansas (updated June 2024)
UCLA ‘97
Chris Woolard, a long-time associate of Coach Calipari, was named men’s basketball general manager in May of 2024.
Woolard was on Kentucky’s staff for 13 seasons and most recently served as associate athletics director for basketball operations. He also serves as the executive director for the Calipari Foundation.
Woolard brings a wealth of experience at both the school and conference levels. He is involved with all aspects of the program and has an active role as a liaison linking John Calipari with the basketball program, the University of Arkansas campus and throughout the state of Arkansas.
Since Woolard joined the program for the 2011-12 season, UK has won a national championship, been to three Final Fours, won five league championships, four conference tournament titles and been a part of unprecedented NBA Dra-ft success.
Woolard joined the University of Kentucky staff after spending seven years at the Conference USA office, where he was the associate commissioner for sports services.
At C-USA, Woolard’s responsibilities focused extensively on the men’s basketball programs as an administrator and tournament director for the annual men’s basketball championship. Woolard also served as the primary administrator for men’s golf along with his duties to provide oversight to the entire C-USA Sports Services Department.
Prior to joining C-USA, Woolard spent a year in private business after working eight years in the college basketball coaching ranks.
He was an integral part of a highly successful Murray State men’s basketball team from 1997-2003, serving as an assistant coach. During Woolard’s time at Murray State, the Racers won three conference championships and made three NCAA appearances.
Woolard began his collegiate coaching career as a student assistant coach at UCLA. During his two years with the Bruins, UCLA made the NCAA Tournament both years, including an Elite 8 run in 1996-97.
Prior to finishing his college career at UCLA, he studied at Washington State for two years and played one season as a member of the varsity basketball team at Chapman University.
A native of Carbondale, Illinois, Woolard earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA in August 1997. He and his wife, Courtney, have two sons, Cooper and Case.
WOOLARD FILE
Born: May 6, 1974, in Carbondale, Ill.
Hometown: Carbondale, Ill. (Pullman (Wash.) HS)
Collegiate Playing Career: Chapman (1992-93)
Alma Mater: UCLA, 1997 (History)
Family: Wife: Courtney. Sons: Cooper and Case
COACHING CAREER
1995-97 UCLA (Student Assistant)
1997-03 Murray State (Assistant Coach)
2004–11 C-USA (Associate Commissioner for Sports Services)
2011–24 Kentucky (Associate Athletics Director for Basketball Operations)
2024–pres. Arkansas (Men’s Basketball General Manager)
