After an outstanding run as Rhett Lashlee's offensive coordinator at SMU, Casey Woods is getting an opportunity to run his own program.
Earlier today, multiple reports surfaced that Woods was the top target in Missouri State's search.
By afternoon, reports shared that Woods had informed SMU that he would be leaving to take over the Bears.
CBS Sports adds that Woods has agreed to a five-year deal, and sources share the board is set to meet Friday morning to approve the deal.
A former Tennessee receiver in the early-to-mid 2000s, Woods has had a rapid rise to FBS head coach.
After a year as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Woods left the Vols to become an offensive quality control coach at Auburn, that led to a coaching opportunity at Arkansas State in 2012 as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator before returning to Auburn after a season in that role as the Tigers new director of player personnel.
He returned to an on-field FBS role in 2017 at UAB as their run game coordinator and tight ends coach, and left to return to the SEC at Missouri in 2020 as their tight ends coach.
When Lashlee landed the SMU job in 2022, Woods came on board as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. The two previously worked together at Auburn.
Known for their fast tempo and explosive vertical attack, the Mustangs offense led by Woods helped the program to a remarkable 11-2 regular season record in 2024 before they fell in the ACC title game to Clemson. The 11-2 finish was enough for them to punch their ticket to the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, where they lost int he first round to Penn State 38-10.
Over the past two seasons, Woods had been involved in a number of head coaching searches, with one of those schools being UAB, where he previously spent time as an assistant coach.
At Missouri State, he takes over an FBS program in their infancy after years at the FCS level. They're replacing Ryan Beard, who led the Bears for three seasons, going 4-7 and then 8-4 before an impressive 7-5 debut as an FBS program in Conference USA. Beard used the strong season to land the opportunity to take over at Coastal Carolina.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.