{"id":17505,"date":"2023-12-29T21:42:17","date_gmt":"2023-12-30T02:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/?post_type=wfsu-news&p=17505"},"modified":"2024-01-10T16:48:17","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T21:48:17","slug":"duke-offers-famu-head-football-coach-willie-simmons-a-coaching-job-reports-say","status":"publish","type":"wfsu-news","link":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/wfsu-news\/duke-offers-famu-head-football-coach-willie-simmons-a-coaching-job-reports-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Duke offers FAMU head football coach Willie Simmons a coaching job, reports say"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida A&M University head football coach Willie Simmons is reportedly<\/a> being targeted by power five ACC program, the Duke Blue Devils.<\/p>\n

Simmons, who just led the Rattlers<\/a> to their first Black College National Championship in over two decades, is approaching the final two years of his contract as head coach of the FAMU football team.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

In just four seasons, the Tallahassee-native secured 45 victories, including an FCS playoff berth, a Southwestern Athletic Conference title, and an HBCU national trophy. However, over the last couple of days multiple sources<\/a> claim Simmons received an offer this week to coach at Duke.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAt some point, it\u2019s not about X\u2019s and O\u2019s,\u201d FAMU\u2019s former sports information director Vaughn Wilson said on Friday during his sports podcast, HBCU Gameday. \u201cHe\u2019s got to think about his family. How do you keep telling your wife I\u2019m going to stay at FAMU because we love FAMU, when you could be making so much money elsewhere and providing a legacy for your family.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been reported that Duke\u2019s newly hired head coach Manny Diaz<\/a> is looking to potentially add Coach Simmons to his staff as a running backs coach next season. That would mean Simmons would not be the one calling the shots as he\u2019s done in the past.<\/p>\n

Why Duke?<\/b><\/p>\n

Before FAMU, Simmons coached in Texas for three years at Prairie View A&M after serving as offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State. Both Simmons and Diaz both worked on the same staff at Middle Tennessee from 2007 to 2009.<\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

Besides their history on the field, many fans and reporters suspect money may be the deciding factor. This season, Duke\u2019s head coach pocketed over $3 million and still has enough funds to recruit even bigger names to Durham.<\/p>\n

But time is not completely out for FAMU<\/b><\/p>\n

As of Friday, neither Duke nor FAMU has made their final offer. However, HBCU Gameday\u2019s Wilson says the Rattlers window to secure a long-term deal with Simmons is steadily running out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my mind, midseason FAMU should\u2019ve been engaging Willie Simmons because we\u2019ve seen this before. It\u2019s not uncommon that a successful HBCU coach or FCS coach, will be targeted by FBS schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

While both Simmons and the university\u2019s front office have kept things under wraps about any contract negotiations, it is important to note that the last major deal between both parties came back in 2018 when Simmons agreed to a yearly $300,000 paycheck<\/a> with over $52,000 in bonus incentives.<\/p>\n

\"Florida<\/p>\n

Now it seems, whoever wants a shot at the reigning FCS Coach of the Year<\/a>will need to either top or at least match FAMU\u2019s previous deal.<\/p>\n

Simmons\u2019 current contract is set to expire in 2025. <\/p>\n

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