Missouri State is finalizing a five-year deal to hire SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods as its next head coach, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Woods' hiring is pending board approval at Missouri State on Friday.
Woods was the offensive coordinator for SMU's playoff run in 2024, and he also spent time at Missouri, UAB and Auburn. Woods is the son of Sparky Woods, the former head coach at Appalachian State and South Carolina.
He will replace Ryan Beard, who was hired as Coastal Carolina coach last week after guiding Missouri State in its transition from FCS to FBS and going 19-16 in three seasons.
The Bears will face Arkansas State in the Xbox Bowl on Thursday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Offensive coordinator Nick Petrino, the son of longtime coach Bobby Petrino, is serving as the interim head coach for the bowl game.
Along with the offensive coordinator title, Woods also worked as SMU's chief of staff. He has been a key part of coach Rhett Lashlee's staff as SMU has transitioned from the American to the ACC.
Woods brings strong ties to the state of Missouri. He worked as Missouri's tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator in 2020 and 2021. He was on Auburn's staff in a quality control role during that program's national-title-winning season in 2010.
He was a wide receiver at Tennessee from 2003 to 2007, serving as a team captain in his final season.
