Hood attended Southern Wayne High School in Dudley, North Carolina.
As a freshman at Campbell University in 1987, Hood had a .290 batting average, a .365 on-base percentage (OBP) and a .420 SLG.
[1] Hood had his best season as a senior in 1990, leading the team in hits (60), stolen bases (26), batting average (.366) and on-base percentage (.490).
He would then spend 3 seasons in the Chicago White Sox organization before going to spring training with the California Angels in 1995.
[2] After failing to make the Angels in 1995, Hood joined the coaching staff at Campbell University.