FAMU head football coach Willie Simmons has resigned to accept a running backs coach position at Duke University to work under incoming head coach Manny Diaz.
Diaz and Simmons both coached together at Middle Tennessee State from 2007-09.
Simmons is 45-13 over the past five seasons, including leading FAMU to its first Celebration Bowl win in school history this season. Since joining the SWAC in 2021, Simmons led the Rattlers to a 22-2 conference record and three consecutive FCS Top-25 finishes.
Before his stint at FAMU, Simmons was the head coach at Prairie View A&M for three seasons. He led the Panthers to a 21-11 record and was the first head coach since 1966 to have a winning record in his first season.
Simmons also served as the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State from 2012-14 under head coach Jay Hopson. Under Simmons, quarterback John Gibbs Jr. was selected as the Black College Player of the Year and the Braves finished eighth nationally in total offense. The Braves were also named Black College National Champions after defeating Southern to win the 2014 SWAC Championship.