SPRINGFIELD -- Hussam Ouri will join Missouri State's staff as an offensive assistant coach, Bears' new head football coach Casey Woods announced today.
 
Ouri has spent the past four seasons at SMU, working as both assistant offensive line coach and assistant linebackers coach for Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee.
 
"Coach  Ouri brings a passion for player development and a hunger for detail to our offensive line after four years with us at SMU," said Woods. "A former All-American player, he has displayed tenacious grit throughout his career ascent that will undoubtedly characterize us up front.  We welcome he and Katie and their son Zayn to the Bears family!  It takes Us ALL!  Join the Climb.  Go Bears!"
 
The 2025 Mustangs finished 9-4 with a win over Arizona in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl. SMU is 6-2 since September with just a pair of one-score road losses blemishing the team's ledger the last two months of the regular season.
 
In 2024, Ouri worked alongside LB coach Maurice Crum Jr. with the unit playing a large role in helping the Mustangs reach new heights, advancing to the program's first CFP along with an undefeated mark (8-0) in the first season in the ACC. The Mustangs finished in the top five nationally in defensive touchdowns (4) while posting the second-best rushing defense in program history (100.2), which led the ACC and ranked No. 7 in FBS. The ponies also racked up 43 sacks (3.07 per game), which ranked 10th nationally, while ranking 18th in tackles for loss (7.1) and 19th in third-down defense (.332).
 
The 2024 campaign featured second-team All-ACC accolades for LB Kobe Wilson who was also named as an honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele.
 
Ouri spent the 2023 season working with the offensive line unit under coach Garin Justice. He was instrumental in shaping a unit that was one of the best in college football with the Mustangs ranking 13th in FBS in fewest sacks allowed with just 16 over a 14-game season. Likewise, the Mustangs ranked No. 6 nationally in first downs (334), No. 8 in scoring offense (38.7), 8th in red zone efficiency (.931), 12th in yards per pass completion (14.22), 16th in total offense (454.3) and 22nd in passing offense (278.4).
 
Ouri joined the SMU football staff in January of 2022 after serving in the same capacity at Louisiana Tech in 2021.
 
Prior to his stint at LA Tech, Ouri spent six seasons (2015-20) as offensive line coach at his alma mater, Shepherd University. He moved to a full-time role in 2018 and to run game coordinator in 2021.
 
In 2019, Shepherd averaged 45 points per game and led the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed (3.23) and ranked No. 6 in fewest sacks allowed (11 on 508 pass attempts). He coached eight all-conference offensive line performers, two all-region selections and three All-Americans from 2015-18. The Rams made an appearance in the 2015 NCAA Division II national championship game and won three MEC Championships, combining for a 36-3 record over a three-year stint from 2015-17.
 
He also served as head football strength and conditioning coordinator during his time at Shepherd, also working with baseball, men's and women's basketball, softball and women's lacrosse. Likewise, he was the offensive coordinator for The Podyum Bowl and coached the offensive line for the 2017 USA Football Team.
 
Ouri was starting center for four seasons at Shepherd, was a three-time WVIAC/MEC all-conference selection and was also named a third-team All-American and an second-team all-region honoree. He earned team captain distinction in 2014 and helped lead Shepherd to three conference championships. Off the field, he was touted by the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society and served two years as Student-Athlete Advisory Council president and one as vice president.
 
The Annapolis, Md. native earned a pair of degrees from Shepherd, completing an undergraduate degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies with concentration in Exercise Science in 2015 and an MBA in Project Management in 2016. He also spent two years as a professor at his alma mater, teaching Essentials of Strength and Conditioning. He is a USSCC Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, holds USAW Level 1 certification, and Olympic and American Red Cross CPR and First Aid certification.
 
He and his wife Katie have a son, Zayn.
 
His hire is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting.