Willie Simmons is anticipated to accept the offer from Duke University to serve as the running backs coach under head coach Manny Diaz, as per information from Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports. Despite a counteroffer from Florida A&M, where Simmons currently coaches, and efforts by the FAMU Alumni Association, which raised over $100,000 to support assistant coaches, Simmons seems inclined to join Duke. At 43 years old, Simmons led the Florida A&M Rattlers to victory in the 2023 Cricket Celebration Bowl and the 2023 Division I HBCU Football Championship. His impressive coaching record includes a 66-24 overall record as head coach at both Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M since the 2015 football season. During his tenure at FAMU, his team achieved a notable 45-13 record and an impressive 22-2 SWAC record since 2021.
If Simmons decides to depart from Tallahassee, he aims to take on the role of an FBS Division I assistant coach, aspiring to eventually lead a football program in the same division. If Manny Diaz successfully enhances the Duke program, his offensive expertise will attract considerable interest from other programs in the future. Diaz enlisted Jonathan Brewer as the offensive coordinator for the Blue Devils, having previously collaborated with him at the University of Miami. At Duke University, Nina King holds the position of Vice President and Director of Athletics. She made history as the third black woman to head an athletic department at a Power 5 conference, assuming the role in September 2021. King, originally from Florida, completed her undergraduate studies at Notre Dame and earned her law degree from Tulane University.
