Willie Simmons (American football)
Simmons at press conference after being named head coach at Prairie View A&M | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | FIU |
| Conference | CUSA |
| Record | 0–0 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 12, 1980 Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2000–2002 | Clemson |
| 2003 | The Citadel |
| 2005 | Sioux City Bandits |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2005 | Lincoln HS (FL) (PGC/QB) |
| 2006 | Clemson (GA) |
| 2007–2009 | Middle Tennessee (RB) |
| 2010 | Middle Tennessee (PGC/RB) |
| 2011 | Middle Tennessee (OC/RB) |
| 2012–2014 | Alcorn State (OC/RB) |
| 2015–2017 | Prairie View A&M |
| 2018–2023 | Florida A&M |
| 2024 | Duke (RB) |
| 2025–present | FIU |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 66–24 |
| Bowls | 1-0 |
| Tournaments | 0–1 (NCAA D-I playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 black college national (2023) 1 SWAC | |
| Awards | |
| SWAC Coach of the Year (2023) 2× AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year (2022–2023) | |
Willie Román Simmons (born October 12, 1980) is an American college football coach and former quarterback. He is the head football coach at Florida International University (FIU), a position he has held since 2025. Simmons previously served as head coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU) from 2018 to 2023, where he led the team to a black college national championship and a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title in 2023, and at Prairie View A&M University from 2015 to 2017. As a player, Simmons was an All-American quarterback at James A. Shanks High School and played college football at Clemson University and The Citadel.
Early life
Willie Román Simmons was born on October 12, 1980, in Tallahassee, Florida, to Willie and Phyllis Simmons, the youngest of three children and only son. At James A. Shanks High School in Quincy, Florida, he was an All-American quarterback, ranked the #10 quarterback nationally by Rivals.com. He led the Tigers to their first district championship in 22 years, throwing for 2,505 yards and 32 touchdowns, earning Big Bend Offensive Player of the Year honors. Simmons received over 25 scholarship offers, ultimately signing with Clemson University to play under coach Tommy Bowden.
Playing career
Simmons lettered three years at Clemson (2000–2002), participating in four bowl games (Peach, Gator, Humanitarian, and Tangerine).[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in services marketing in 2002, the fastest graduation by any Clemson football player at the time. After briefly transferring to Florida A&M University in 2003, he was deemed ineligible due to FAMU’s provisional Division I-A status and enrolled at The Citadel.[2][3] There, he earned All-Southern Conference First Team honors, leading the Bulldogs to a 6–6 record, their first non-losing season in a decade, and defeating Furman, Appalachian State, and Georgia Southern in the same season, a rare feat. In 2005, Simmons played one season for the Sioux City Bandits in the United Indoor Football League, alongside future NFL running back Fred Jackson.[4]
Coaching career
Early coaching roles
Simmons began coaching in 2005 at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, serving as pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, mentoring future NFL quarterback B.J. Daniels. In 2006, he returned to Clemson as a graduate assistant, working with quarterbacks.[5][6]
Middle Tennessee
From 2007 to 2009, Simmons coached running backs at Middle Tennessee under Rick Stockstill. Promoted to pass game coordinator in 2010 and offensive coordinator in 2011, he became one of the youngest FBS coordinators at age 30. In 2011, the Blue Raiders ranked 20th nationally in total offense, leading the Sun Belt Conference in total offense, rushing offense, and third-down conversions.
Alcorn State
In 2012, Simmons joined Alcorn State as offensive coordinator under Jay Hopson. The Braves improved from a 2–9 record to 4–7 in 2012, defeating SWAC champion Grambling State. In 2013, they finished 9–3, with running back Arnold Walker earning SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. In 2014, Alcorn State won the SWAC championship and was named Black College National Champions, with quarterback John Gibbs, Jr., earning SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Black College Player of the Year. The offense ranked second nationally in scoring offense.[7][8]
Prairie View A&M
On December 16, 2014, Simmons was named head coach at Prairie View A&M. In 2015, despite no spring practice due to APR sanctions, the Panthers finished 8–2 (8–1 SWAC), with the nation’s top-scoring offense (44.9 points per game). Simmons achieved three consecutive winning seasons (7–4 in 2016, 6–5 in 2017), a feat accomplished only once in the prior 50 years at PVAMU.[9][10][11][12]
Florida A&M
On December 12, 2017, Simmons became head coach at Florida A&M, ending a seven-year losing streak with a 6–5 record in 2018. In 2019, FAMU finished 9–2, with quarterback Ryan Stanley named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. After opting out of 2020 due to COVID-19, FAMU joined the SWAC in 2021, finishing 9–3 and making the FCS playoffs, led by Buck Buchanan Award winner Isaiah Land and All-American safety Markquese Bell. In 2023, Simmons led FAMU to a 12–1 record, winning the SWAC championship, black college national championship, and the Celebration Bowl, earning SWAC Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year honors.[13]
Duke
In 2024, Simmons served as running backs coach at Duke, contributing to a 9–3 season.[14]
FIU
On December 10, 2024, Simmons was named head coach at FIU.[15]
Personal life
Simmons is married to Shaia René Beckwith, a Florida A&M graduate, and they have six children: Louis III, Amerie, Raven, Shailoh, Wraylon, and Truth. His father, a mechanic, died in a work-related accident in 1987, and his mother, a math teacher, died in 2005 from chronic renal failure. Nicknamed “Shotgun” for his strong arm and quick release, Simmons maintains strong ties to Quincy, Florida.
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | STATS# | Coaches° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie View A&M Panthers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (2015–2017) | |||||||||
| 2015 | Prairie View A&M | 8–2 | 8–1 | 2nd (West) | |||||
| 2016 | Prairie View A&M | 7–4 | 7–2 | 3rd (West) | |||||
| 2017 | Prairie View A&M | 6–5 | 4–3 | 3rd (West) | |||||
| Prairie View A&M: | 21–11 | 19–6 | |||||||
| Florida A&M Rattlers (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) (2018–2020) | |||||||||
| 2018 | Florida A&M | 6–5 | 5–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 2019 | Florida A&M | 9–2 | 7–1 | 1st* | 24 | 25 | |||
| 2020 | No team—COVID-19 | ||||||||
| Florida A&M Rattlers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (2021–2023) | |||||||||
| 2021 | Florida A&M | 9–3 | 7–1 | 2nd (East) | L NCAA Division I First Round | 25 | 24 | ||
| 2022 | Florida A&M | 9–2 | 7–1 | 2nd (East) | 23 | ||||
| 2023 | Florida A&M | 12–1 | 8–0 | 1st (East) | W Celebration | 10 | 5 | ||
| Florida A&M: | 45–13 | 32–5 | *Could not be named MEAC champions in 2019 due to NCAA sanctions. | ||||||
| FIU Panthers (Conference USA) (2025–present) | |||||||||
| 2025 | FIU | 0–0 | 0–0 | ||||||
| FIU: | 0–0 | 0–0 | |||||||
| Total: | 66–24 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- ^ "Simmons to Transfer". Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site. May 1, 2003. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Henry, Jim. "'The right way': Willie Simmons' journey from Quincy to Florida International University". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Sapakoff, Gene (October 9, 2022). "Sapakoff: Willie Simmons leans on Clemson, Citadel lessons in FAMU 'resiliency'". Post and Courier. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Willie Simmons: From All-American QB to FAMU coach". FCS Football Insider. January 15, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ "Block C Club Spotlight – Willie Simmons". Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site. February 11, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Florida A&M's match-up with South Florida is a personal game for Willie Simmons". WTXL ABC 27 Tallahassee News. September 17, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Marshall, Kendrick (December 7, 2024). "Willie Simmons, longtime HBCU coach, to lead Florida International football". Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ mgreenleaf (September 8, 2023). "Transportation Commissioner Simmons and staff visit with ASU students about career opportunities". Alcorn State University. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Willie Simmons - Football Coach". Prairie View A&M University Athletics. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Culver, Jordan. "Prairie View A&M releases statement saying head coach Willie Simmons has stepped down". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Dean, Richard (December 9, 2017). "Prairie View A&M football coach Willie Simmons resigns to take position at Florida A&M". Chron. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Simmons steps down at Prairie View, expected to become Florida A&M coach". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Willie Simmons - Head Coach / Quarterbacks - Football Coaches". Florida A&M. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "FIU hires Duke assistant Simmons as new coach". ESPN.com. December 7, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ "Florida International announces hiring of Willie Simmons as football coach". AP News. December 7, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2025.