SPRINGFIELD -- Coaching veteran Sparky Woods will join the Missouri State football staff and will serve as senior assistant coach, Bears' new head football coach Casey Woods announced today.

With nearly 50 years of football coaching experience, including more than a decade as a head coach, the elder coach Woods recently spent 2019 to 2023 as senior advisor to head coach Mack Brown at the University of North Carolina.

"Coach Sparky Woods will play an integral role in staff development and provide an incredible wealth of knowledge after 48 years coaching college and pro Football," said Casey Woods. "A well-respected communicator who himself has served as a head coach for 17 years, he will instantly contribute to building outstanding teachers and teammates. We welcome him and Jean Ann, my momma!, and my kids' Aunt Emily to the Bears Family! It takes Us ALL! Join the Climb. Go Bears!"

Prior to coming to Chapel Hill, the father of MoState's new head coach was the running backs coach and co-special teams coordinator at Richmond.
 
During his four seasons in Richmond (2015-18), one of which ended in the FCS Semifinals, Woods mentored Deontez Thompson, who became the first freshman in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards, earning Freshman All-America accolades. Thompson was just the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000-plus yards rushing, while also piling up nearly 500 yards receiving. Woods also guided Jacobi Green, who earned All-America and All-CAA accolades after gaining over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns, two of the best single-season marks in program history. Woods also served as Richmond's recruiting coordinator in 2015 and 2016, helping the Spiders to back-to-back high-profile recruiting classes.
 
Prior to Richmond, Woods spent seven seasons as the head coach at VMI (2008-14) where he mentored 24 all-conference payers and won the Big South sportsmanship award five times. He recruited and coached some of the school's most prolific playmakers, including Eric Kordenbrock who is VMI's career passing yards leader and season record holder for passing yards, total offense and touchdowns. Cobb was also named SoCon Freshman of the Year in 2014.

He also spent four years coaching running backs at Alabama from 2003-06. While in Tuscaloosa, Woods coached Tide running back Kenneth Darby to two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and Shaud Williams, who led the SEC in rushing yardage in 2003 and was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker award. The Tide led the SEC in rushing for three consecutive seasons (2003-05).
 
Before his time in Tuscaloosa, Woods served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Memphis (1995-96), Virginia (1997-98), and Mississippi State (1999-02). In 1994, he was part of the New York Jets staff as an offensive assistant.
 
Woods' first head coaching experience began in 1984 when he turned Appalachian State into a I-AA (FCS) power, guiding the Mountaineers to a 38-19-2 mark, two SoCon titles and two NCAA playoff appearances over his five seasons (1984-88). The SoCon tabbed Woods as Coach of the Year three consecutive times (1985-87). He was also named Kodak Region II Coach of the Year in 1986. 
 
After his time at App State, Woods took over at South Carolina, guiding them to back-to-back six-win seasons to start his five-year tenure in Columbia (1989-93).
 
He began his coaching career at Tennessee in 1976, then moved to Kansas the following season before serving one year as defensive backs coach at North Alabama in 1978. From 1979-82, he coached at Iowa State, handling the receivers, before joining the staff at App State in 1983 as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and running backs coach under Mack Brown. One year later, Woods was named head coach at App State.

Woods is a 1976 graduate of Carson-Newman, where he played quarterback and defensive back. 
 
He and his wife, Jean Ann, have two adult children, daughter Emily, and Bears head coach Casey Woods.

His hire is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.