- Program
- FIU
- Level
- FBS
- In Role Since
- 2024
- Conference
- CUSA
- Education
- Clemson, 2002 (Sports Marketing)
Profile
Named FIU’s seventh head coach on Dec. 7, 2024, Simmons led FIU to a program-best season in his first year that included the program’s first bowl game since 2019 and a 7-6 finish overall after a four-game winning streak to close the regular season. He arrives with a 73-30 (.709) career head-coaching record and six years (2018-23) at Florida A&M where he compiled a 45-13 record and won two HBCU National Championships (2019, 2023). Simmons also earned back-to-back AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year honors (2022, 2023) and was the 2023 SWAC Coach of the Year.
Coaching Approach
Balances high-scoring offenses and stout defensive metrics via program transformation: at Florida A&M (2023) his teams ranked in the national top-20 in 17 categories (including first in pass efficiency defense at 102.48 and second in total defense at 260.80) and he has a track record of producing award-winning skill-position players (e.g., QB Ryan Stanley’s FAMU career records and RB Isaiah Land’s 2021 Buck Buchanan Award), demonstrating emphasis on roster development and complementary unit performance.
Career Highlights
- Named FIU head coach on Dec. 7, 2024
- Led FIU to its first bowl game since 2019 and finished 7-6 overall in his first season
- Career head-coaching record of 73-30 (.709) and surpassed 70 career wins and 100 games coached during the 2025 campaign at FIU/FAMU timeframe noted in bio (source text)
Sources
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