BREAKING – FIU Football To Hire Willie Simmons As Their Next Head Coach

MIAMI, FL – As of Saturday morning, FIU Athletics has hired the running backs coach from Duke, Willie Simmons, as the program’s next head coach and seventh all-time.

This is expected to be a four-year deal for Coach Simmons. He’s only spent this past season with Duke but has helped the program to a 9-3 record.

Prior to that tenure, Simmons made a name for himself at the FCS level. He spent six seasons as the head coach of Florida A&M.

With the Rattlers, he totaled a 45-13 record and two trips to the HBCU Championship, SWAC Championship, and the 2023 Celebration Bowl in his final year there.

For his efforts at Florida A&M, Simmons received AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year honors in 2022 & 2023 and was also named the 2023 SWAC Coach of the Year.

One of his earlier coaching jobs was at CUSA-foe Middle Tennessee from 2007-09. He was the running backs coach then, while Manny Diaz (Current head coach of Duke) was the defensive coordinator.

Other colleges that Simmons worked for include Prairie View A&M (Head Coach, 2015-17) and Alcorn State. (Offensive Coordinator, 2012-14)