SMU navigates coordinator departures as top programs poach talent.
Success in college football comes with a price. For SMU, that bill has arrived in the form of staff departures.
Defensive coordinator Scott Symons has left the Mustangs to become the inside linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys, while offensive coordinator Casey Woods recently accepted a head coaching position at Missouri State.
For head coach Rhett Lashlee, it marks the first time during his SMU tenure that both coordinators have exited in the same cycle.
Grayson Singleton of Locked on SMU tells us that’s not necessarily bad news.
When Power Five programs and NFL franchises begin hiring from your staff, it signals credibility. Lashlee has guided SMU from Group of Five relevance to ACC contender in a short span.
In two seasons of Power Four football, the Mustangs have won 20 games, reached the College Football Playoff in their first ACC campaign, and followed it with a nine-win season and a bowl victory. That kind of trajectory draws attention across the coaching industry.
Now comes the next challenge: sustaining it.
Rather than conduct a nationwide search, Lashlee promoted from within. Garin Justice and Rob Likens will step into co-offensive coordinator roles, while Maurice Crum takes over defensive play-calling duties.
Lashlee continues to call plays on offense, which provides stability, especially with quarterback Kevin Jennings entering his fourth year in the system.
Continuity on offense should be a strength. Jennings’ experience, combined with Lashlee's scheme and the presence of former star quarterback D'Eriq King on staff, offers reassurance that SMU’s scoring production can remain steady.
Defense presents more uncertainty. The 2024 unit was among the ACC’s most improved groups, but 2025 saw regression in pass defense.
Adding to the challenge, key contributors such as Isaiah Waggoner and Ahmaad Moses are gone, along with much of the defensive front. Crum inherits a talented but transitioning roster.
This is what separates solid coaches from elite program builders.
History offers examples in both directions. Some programs absorb coordinator turnover seamlessly and continue competing for championships.
Others stumble once key assistants depart. Lashlee's ability to identify, develop, and elevate coaching talent will now be tested on a larger stage.
SMU football has reestablished itself nationally. The Mustangs are recruiting at a higher level, winning consistently, and commanding attention in the ACC. The question moving forward is simple: can they maintain that standard amid change?
If Lashlee navigates this transition successfully, SMU won’t just be a good story ... it will be a sustainable contender in modern college football.