{"id":748675,"date":"2026-02-13T06:55:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T06:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/748675\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T06:55:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T06:55:26","slug":"smu-announces-reorganization-of-offensive-staff-to-replace-departed-oc-casey-woods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/748675\/","title":{"rendered":"SMU announces reorganization of offensive staff to replace departed OC Casey Woods"},"content":{"rendered":"

UNIVERSITY PARK \u2014 Since SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods announced he\u2019d be leaving the program<\/a> to take over as Missouri State\u2019s head coach in December, one of the primary questions within SMU\u2019s football team has been who would replace him.<\/p>\n

On Thursday ahead SMU\u2019s national signing day celebration, we learned the Mustangs<\/a> will, instead, be taking a different approach to their offense.<\/p>\n

Head coach Rhett Lashlee<\/a> announced he doesn\u2019t plan to hire a new staffer or promote any one member of his current staff to replace Woods in a traditional OC role. Instead, the Mustangs will approach the role by committee \u2014 with all of its offensive position coaches taking on additional responsibilities.<\/p>\n

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Wide receivers coach and associate head coach Rob Likens has been promoted to Chief of Staff. Quarterbacks coach D\u2019Eriq King will also now hold a co-OC role, which he will share with offensive line coach Garin Justice. Running backs coach Kyle Cooper, who also previously served as special teams coordinator, will now only be on the offensive side of the ball, acting as the run-game coordinator. Assistant special teams coordinator Casey Horny has been promoted to special teams coordinator. Finally, SMU hired Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge in December<\/a> to take over Woods\u2019 role as tight ends coach and pass-game coordinator.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose five guys in that room, we\u2019re gonna do a lot of it together,\u201d Lashlee said. \u201cWe\u2019re not the first people who have had two co-coordinators lead a side of the ball. \u2026 We felt like we had the answers within.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decision not to hire a replacement for Woods was simpler than it would\u2019ve been in other programs because Lashlee calls the plays. In many programs, that\u2019s the offensive coordinator\u2019s job. While Woods consulted with Lashlee on the playbook, the head coach ultimately makes the calls \u2014 and it will remain that way. <\/p>\n

Lashlee said he\u2019s confident in the group he has because of its continuity. While it has lost pieces like Woods and former quarterbacks coach Jonathan Brewer, who became the OC at Duke following the 2023 season,<\/a> it also stayed mostly intact. <\/p>\n

Lashlee and Cooper have coached together for nine years. He, Likens and Justice are entering their seventh year together. King played for Lashlee at Miami and is now entering his fourth season on his staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel good about where we are as an offensive staff,\u201d Lashlee said. \u201cI think the staff and the unit will work well together, and hopefully, we can be better next year than we were this past year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The primary changes, Lashlee hopes, will make the team even stronger. Cooper will be able to focus on the offense, allowing Horny to dive into a special teams unit with room for improvement.<\/p>\n

\u201cOther than missing some kicks, we\u2019ve not lost games on special teams,\u201d Lashlee said. \u201cWe want to start winning games on special teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same can be said on defense with defensive coordinator Scott Symons dropping his role as safeties coach and instead giving those responsibilities to former South Oak Cliff defensive coordinator Kyle Ward. <\/p>\n

Ward and Dodge allow SMU to further strengthen its relationship with local high schools<\/a> where the bulk of its recruiting classes are built.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re fantastic coaches,\u201d Lashlee said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been super successful. They win championships, and I think they\u2019re both going to help us a lot on the coaching side, the relationships, the recruiting side and really elevate our staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Twitter\/X: @Lassimak<\/a><\/p>\n

SMU football announces two games at Dallas Cowboys\u2019 AT&T Stadium<\/a>From promise to paycheck: How Dallas is building a path to a living-wage future<\/a><\/p>\n

Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n