Hussam Ouri enters his fourth season on the Hilltop in 2025, serving as the Assistant Linebackers Coach.
Ouri worked with the linebackers under Maurice Crum Jr. in 2024, with the unit playing a large role in helping the Mustangs reach new heights, advancing to the programs first CFP along with an undefeated mark in the first season in the ACC.
SMU became the first team to go 8-0 in conference play after moving to a Power 4/5 conference from a Group of Five conference. The 2024 season also marked the first time the Mustangs went undefeated and untied in conference play in conference play in back-to-back seasons.
The Mustangs were elite defensively once again in 2024, due in large part to the linebackers room. For the second straight season they finished in the top five in defensive touchdowns with four, including one by standout LB Kobe Wilson. The mark was also the best in the ACC. SMU posted the second-best rushing defense in program history, allowing just 100.2 yards per game on the ground. The mark was good for seventh best in the FBS and tops in the conference.
SMU also got to the quarterback at a high clip in 2024, earning 43 sacks, the third most in program history. The defense was also elite in all three facets during the historic season, with the linebackers playing a large role in the unit ranking in the top 25 in the FBS in multiple different categories including: defensive touchdowns (5th, 4), rushing defense (7th, 100.2), team sacks (10th, 3.07), passes intercepted (14th, 16), fourth down conversion pct. Defense (17th, .415), tackles for loss (18th, 7.1), third down conversion pct. defense (19th, .332) and red zone defense (24th, .767).
Due to the success in the season, Kobe Wilson was added to the Second Team All-ACC. Wilson also picked up All-American Honorable Mention accolades by Phil Steele.
Ouri spent the 2023 season working with the offensive line unit under Garin Justice. Ouri played an instrumental part in helping shape a unit that was one of the best in all of college football in 2023, with the Mustangs ranking 13th in FBS in sacks allowed with just 16 over a 14-game season.
The great play along the line allowed for SMU to be explosive on offense, ranking in the top 25 in the FBS in numerous categories including: first down offense (6th, 334), scoring offense (8th, 38.7), red zone offense (8th, .931), passing yards per completion (12th, 14.22), sacks allowed (13th, 16), total offense (16th, 454.3) and passing offense (22nd, 278.4).
The high-scoring offense scored at least 55 points four times in 2023, another program record for a single season.
Ouri joined the SMU football staff in January of 2022.
Prior to arriving on the Hilltop, he served in the same capacity at Louisiana Tech (2021).
Ouri spent six seasons as offensive line coach at his alma mater, Shepherd University (January 2015-July 2021), and was promoted to full time in 2018 and to run game coordinator in 2021. He helped Shepherd to a pair of seasons averaging 500+ yards (2019, 2017) and in 2019, Shepherd averaged 45+ PPG. The 2019 season also saw the Rams rank No. 1 in the nation in tackles for loss allowed (3.23) and No. 6 in sacks allowed (11 on 508 pass attempts). Ouri coached eight all-conference offensive line performers, two all-region selections and three All-Americans from 2015-18. He also mentored 2018 NFL Camp invitee Lavonte Hights (Chicago Bears). Shepherd made an appearance in the 2015 Division II National Title game and won three MEC Championships, a pair of Super Region 1 Championships and posted a 36-3 record from 2015-17. From February 2017 to July 2021, he served as head football strength and conditioning coordinator, while also working with baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and women’s lacrosse.
He has also served as Offensive Coordinator for The Podyum Bowl and coached the offensive line for the 2017 USA Football Team.
Ouri was a four-year starter at center for Shepherd and was named a three-time WVIAC/MEC All-Conference selection. He was also named a third-team All-American and an all-region selection. Ouri served as a team captain in 2014 and helped lead Shepherd to three conference championships. A member of the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society, he served two years as Student-Athlete Advisory Council president and one as vice president.
Ouri earned a pair of degrees from Shepherd, completing an undergraduate degree in exercise science and an MBA in project management. He also spent two years as a professor at his alma mater, teaching essentials of strength and conditioning. Ouri is a USSCC Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and is USAW Level 1 Olympic and American Red Cross CPR and First Aid certified.
Ouri is married and resides in Allen, Texas.
