College coach accused of housing 30 players in 3-bedroom apartment

The head football coach at Los Angeles Pierce College is under investigation after he allegedly allowed at least four players to live in the team's locker room and housed at least 30 others in a three-bedroom apartment, football players and staff told Arielle Zolezzi of the school's student-run newspaper, The Roundup News.

Carlos Woods is also being investigated for allowing ineligible players to compete in games and recruiting out of state, which is prohibited by the California Community College Athletic Association.

Players told Zolezzi that Woods collected as much as $400 each from the student-athletes residing at the apartment last season. Some said they were kicked out because the coach didn't pay the rent.

Jose Cordova, a former player at Pierce College, said the living situation was nothing like Woods had promised.

"Coach Woods told me that I was valid to move to L.A. from Orlando, Florida, and that my housing would be set up with other players coming in and returning athletes," Cordova said. "Woods told me that it would be four to five players in a three-bedroom, and we would all split the bills and each pay $350 for rent - everything included. ...

"He promised actual living space, and it ended up being like a camp/jail with how many people were living in that house. Lines Woods had crossed would be 30 guys in a three-bedroom and almost half of his recruits wouldn't pay rent and bills wouldn't be paid."

After the players were told they were being evicted, Cordova at one point lived out of his car. When he confronted Woods about the situation by text, the coach replied: "I feel it is best we go different directions."

Woods was placed on temporary administrative leave Thursday pending the outcome of the investigation.

As an assistant coach at Gavilan College in 2017, Woods was among the staff members placed on leave for recruiting and benefits violations. Seventeen out-of-state Gavilan players lived in a three-bedroom house in Hollister, California, and received a break on the first month's rent from the homeowner, which was deemed an impermissible benefit.