Former Miami defensive line coach set to be hired by Duke
The Duke Blue Devils are expected to hire former Miami Hurricanes defensive line coach, Jess Simpson, Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman reported on Saturday afternoon. He had previously spent two years as the defensive line coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
While with the Falcons, he helped their defense ranked ninth in the league in both total defense and rushing defense in 2017.
The Blue Devils initially hired Sean Spencer as their defensive line coach but he went to the Florida Gators to be on Billy Napier’s staff.
Simpson also had a stint coaching the defensive line for the Hurricanes in 2018.
During his first season with Miami in 2018, the ‘Canes defense dominated. The Hurricanes ranked fourth in the country in total defense and ranked first in the country in several categories, including tackles for loss, third down conversion percentage, and passing yards allowed.
Under Simpson’s guidance, defensive tackle Gerald Willis III earned All-American honors in 2018. That season, Willis led the ACC with 18 tackles for loss, more than any other defensive tackle in FBS.
Now, expected to join Duke’s newly anointed head coach, former Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko. On Friday, Simpson posted a goodbye post on Twitter for many of his former players at Miami and thanked the previous coaches that he’d worked for there, too, including Mark Richt and Manny Diaz.
He wrote: “Gonna miss all these boys and I pray the good Lord would order your steps! Embrace change and NEVER settle!! I will always appreciate our time in Miami and the opportunity Manny Diaz and Mark Richt gave us to be here.”
An incredibly successful high school head coach, Simpson also guided Buford High School (Buford, Georgia) to 12 spectacular seasons. During his tenure as their head coach, Simpson won seven state titles and compiled a record of 164-12–-a .932 winning percentage.