Willie Simmons linked to head coaching vacancy at Georgia State

Former FAMU head football coach Willie Simmons, now serving as the running backs coach at Duke University, finds himself, again, in the spotlight as speculation swirls around his potential move to Georgia State University in Atlanta. FootballScoop.com, renowned for its insider information on coaching vacancies, has linked Simmons to the coaching vacancy at Georgia State, positioning him as one of the prime contenders for the position.

According to reports, Simmons is among a pool of candidates who are either scheduled for interviews or have already engaged in discussions with Georgia State officials. The interviewing process reportedly commenced on Tuesday, marking five days since the departure of GSU's former head coach Shawn Elliott, who accepted a coaching role on at the University of South Carolina.
 
For Simmons, the opportunity to helm Georgia State's football program would not only mark a significant career advancement but also a substantial financial boost. In 2023, the university paid its head coach a handsome sum of $811,000. 

According to USAToday, Georgia State athletics, which participates in the Sun Belt Conference, had an operating budget of roughly $45.6 million ranking it 72 overall in collegiate sports.  Last year the Panthers football team finished the season 7-6 (3-5 Sun Belt).

 
The potential move to Georgia State would align with Simmons' long-standing aspiration of ascending to the pinnacle of collegiate coaching within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).