By Vaughn Wilson
Florida International University (FIU) has hired former FAMU head coach Willie Simmons as its new head coach. ESPN reports that Simmons was offered a four-year deal, making him just the fourth HBCU coach to take over an FBS program.
Willie Jeffries was the first to make the leap as the former South Carolina State coach was hired by Wichita State. Former Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders is now the head coach at the University of Colorado. Former NCCU head coach Jerry Mack now leads Kennesaw State.
Simmons left FAMU officially on New Year’s Day. It was two weeks after hoisting the trophy in Atlanta by winning the HBCU national championship with a 30-26 win over Howard University in the Cricket Celebration bowl. The Rattler nation was not ready for such an abrupt departure.
Throughout his time at FAMU, Simmons was a hot commodity. The University of South Carolina put in a push to bring him as a position coach and other schools offered but were not taken seriously by Simmons. During this time, Simmons felt he had the support of FAMU VP/AD Kortne Gosha and he was getting the resources he needed to continue to build.
With descension between former FAMU Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes and Simmons and his agent, it was no surprise that Simmons bolted for Duke to be running backs coach for his former coaching mate Manny Diaz. They had worked together at Middle Tennessee State and it was a safe place to grow.
It was no secret that Simmons was not Sykes’ choice. While she celebrated the national championship, behind closed doors she was not supporting him. That was uncovered in employee accounts and several individuals who had been in contact with her. A tense situation developed between Sykes and Simmons’ agent that made the relations irreparable. Simmons agent then began working on the next move for his client.
While FAMU was certainly not the place where Simmons wanted to end his career, he was not ready to abruptly leave the institution. His respect for the university, its history, and the people of the university was too great for that.
Even after all that has transpired, social media has been abuzz with well wishes for Simmons. He will always remain a fiber in the FAMUly. He and wife Shaia and their children are great representatives of our great institution. The outpouring of support of those who earlier this year were trying everything in their will to keep Simmons, has turned into a chorus of support for one of the most talented young coaches in the NCAA.
