COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz has added offensive assistant coach Casey Woods to his staff, as announced today. Woods comes to Mizzou from UAB, where he has spent the past three seasons as tight ends coach, run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator. Details of Woods’ contract with Mizzou, along with his specific coaching duties, will be released pending completion of the human resources process.
Woods joined the UAB staff when the football program was reestablished for the 2017 season, and in the three years since – starting from scratch with zero scholarships – the Blazers quickly built the winningest program in Conference USA with a 28-12 overall record. Woods, the son of longtime college coach Sparky Woods, helped guide UAB to the 2018 C-USA title, and to consecutive West Division titles in the last two seasons.
“Casey has been around college football for a long time, he’s got a tremendous heritage with his father’s history,” said Drinkwitz. “He’s got a tremendous work ethic and a very bright future and we’re excited to bring him and his family to Columbia to help us build the program.”
In 2018, Woods was key to the Blazers turning in their best offensive season in program history, which resulted in an 11-3 overall record and winning the school’s first ever Conference USA title and bowl game.
The Blazers set 21 school records in 2018, including total points (418, total yards (5,680, rushing yards (2,818, total touchdowns (53, rushing touchdowns (32, single game total yards (668 vs. UTSA) and single game rushing yards (419 vs. UTSA).
Woods’ tight ends unit was led by co-starters Logan Scott and Hayden Pittman, who did most of their damage in the run game as key additional blockers to Spencer Brown, who ran for 1,227 yards and a school-record 16 touchdowns.
“My family and I are real excited to come to Columbia and be a part of a great tradition at Mizzou,” said Woods. “Coach Drinkwitz and I have known each other for almost a decade now, and I know that he has great vision and he is a tireless worker and incredibly smart. I am really looking forward to being under his leadership and to be back in the SEC – it’s the best of the best.”
In 2017, Woods’ unit included the inside wide receivers in addition to the tight ends and was led by slot receiver Collin Lisa who hauled in 33 catches for 439 yards.
Along with coaching tight ends, Woods has been on the front lines of UAB’s nation-wide recruiting efforts and roster management, which has been at the top of Conference USA since the reinstatement of the program.
Prior to joining the Blazers, Woods spent three years as the Director of Player Personnel at Auburn University from 2013-15. During his time at Auburn, the Tigers amassed a record of 27-13, which included a run to the national title game in 2013 and a 12-2 overall record.
In 2012, Woods coached the wide receivers and served as the recruiting coordinator for Arkansas State. The Red Wolves were 10-3 in Woods’ lone season and won their final eight games, including a 17-13 victory over No. 25 Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
From 2009-11, Woods was as an offensive quality control assistant at Auburn. He was a member of the 2010 national championship team led by current NFL star Cam Newton. Auburn finished the season 14-0 and defeated Oregon 22-19 in the Fiesta Bowl to claim the title.
Woods was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, in 2008. He played in 41 games for the Vols from 2003-07 as a wide receiver and holder, and he served as a team captain during his senior year in 2007. In his five seasons in Knoxville, Tennessee went 44-20 overall and had three 10-win seasons. An outstanding student, Woods was a four-time Academic All-SEC selection.
Woods is a native of Starkville, Miss., and played his high school ball at Starkville Academy.
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