Florida A&M Head Coach Willie Simmons Accepts Assistant Coaching Position At Duke

Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons accepts an assistant coaching role at Duke under Manny Diaz

Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons has reportedly accepted an assistant coaching position at Duke under head coach Manny Diaz. Simmons is expected to serve as the running backs coach for the Blue Devils.

Diaz and Simmons both coached at Middle Tennessee State as assistant coaches from 2007-09. 

Simmons is 45-13 over the past five seasons, including leading the Rattlers to the first Celebration Bowl win in school history this season. Since joining the SWAC in 2021, Simmons led the Rattlers to a 22-2 conference record and three consecutive FCS Top-25 finishes. 

Before his stint at Florida A&M, Simmons was the head coach at Prairie View A&M for three seasons. He led the Panthers to a 21-11 record and was the first head coach since 1966 to have a winning record in his first season. 

Simmons also served as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State from 2012-14 under head coach Jay Hopson. Under Simmons, quarterback John Gibbs Jr. was selected as the Black College Player of the Year and the Braves finished eighth nationally in total offense. The Braves were also named Black College National Champions after defeating Southern to win the 2014 SWAC Championship.

Florida A&M announced Simmons has resigned as the head coach of the Rattlers. Duke has officially announced Willie Simmons as the running backs coach on Monday.

2023-24 FCS Football Head Coaching Change Tracker

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀

Coach Simmons has officially resigned from Florida A&M as the head football coach.

📰 https://t.co/JiyvDHKfLv
📺 https://t.co/EeQTp9Kzlv#FAMU | #Rattlers | #OurTime pic.twitter.com/t9Dtl4v6HR

— Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB) January 1, 2024

Welcome to Duke, @HCWillieSimmons! 😈 pic.twitter.com/aUWXLAThVL

— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) January 2, 2024