FIU is hiring Willie Simmons as its next football coach, people involved in decision confirmed to The Athletic on Saturday.Simmons, currently the running backs coach at Duke, will replace Mike MacIntyre, who was fired last weekend following three consecutive 4-8 seasons. Simmons, a 44-year-old Tallahassee, Fla., native, will be the seventh head coach in program history.AdvertisementTim Harris Jr., most recently the offensive coordinator at UCF, was a finalist for the job.Before spending the 2024 season at Duke, Simmons went 45-13 as the head coach at Florida A&M. He led the Rattlers to a SWAC championship and Celebration Bowl berth in 2023, his final season with the program. He played quarterback at Clemson for Tommy Bowden (2000-02) and at The Citadel (2003).FIU’s program was founded in 2002, first played FBS games three years later and has had only four winning seasons in its existence (the last coming in 2018 under Butch Davis).Mario Cristobal is the winningest coach in program history with a 27-47 record.MacIntyre had three years left on a contract that paid him $750,000 annually and is owed approximately $1.1 million in a buyout.In August, the school signed a deal to rename its football stadium after recording artist Pitbull, bringing in $1.2 million annually over five years. The deal is also expected to assist in name, image and likeness compensation for athletes.It’s needed.More than a dozen players have announced plans to enter the transfer portal. Among them are quarterback Keyone Jenkins, standout receiver Eric Rivers, four starters on the offensive line, starting linebacker Travion Barnes and starting safety Hezekiah Masses.The highest point in the program’s history was beating crosstown rival Miami in November 2019. That was the last season FIU played in a bowl game. The Panthers lost 18 of their next 19 games and Davis, who owns the program’s best winning percentage (.429), was fired at the end of a 1-11 season.The school has produced 10 NFL Draft picks all-time but none since 2020. The most famous NFL alumnus is four-time Pro Bowl receiver and 2010 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year T.Y. Hilton.(Photo: Rich Storry / Getty Images)

FIU appoints Willie Simmons as the upcoming head football coach

FIU has selected Willie Simmons as its upcoming football head coach, sources involved in the decision disclosed to The Athletic on Saturday. Simmons, who is presently the running backs coach at Duke, will take over for Mike MacIntyre, dismissed last weekend after three straight 4-8 seasons. A 44-year-old native of Tallahassee, Fla., Simmons will be the seventh […]

FIU has selected Willie Simmons as its upcoming football head coach, sources involved in the decision disclosed to The Athletic on Saturday.

Simmons, who is presently the running backs coach at Duke, will take over for Mike MacIntyre, dismissed last weekend after three straight 4-8 seasons. A 44-year-old native of Tallahassee, Fla., Simmons will be the seventh head coach in the history of the program.

Tim Harris Jr., the former offensive coordinator at UCF, was a top candidate for the position.

Prior to his tenure at Duke in 2024, Simmons led Florida A&M to a 45-13 record as head coach. He guided the Rattlers to a SWAC title and a Celebration Bowl appearance in 2023, his last season with the team. Simmons played quarterback at Clemson under Tommy Bowden (2000-02) and at The Citadel (2003).

Founded in 2002, FIU’s program began competing in FBS just three years later and has recorded only four winning seasons to date, the most recent occurring in 2018 under Butch Davis.

Mario Cristobal holds the record for the most wins in the program’s history with a 27-47 record.

MacIntyre still had three years remaining on his contract, which paid him $750,000 annually, and is owed roughly $1.1 million in a buyout.

This past August, the university secured an agreement to rename its football stadium after music artist Pitbull, bringing $1.2 million annually over five years. This agreement is also anticipated to aid in name, image, and likeness compensation for athletes.

This support is essential.

More than twelve players have declared intentions to enter the transfer portal. Notably, these include quarterback Keyone Jenkins, standout receiver Eric Rivers, four offensive line starters, starting linebacker Travion Barnes, and starting safety Hezekiah Masses.

The pinnacle of the program’s history was the victory over crosstown rival Miami in November 2019, which marked the last season FIU participated in a bowl game. Following that, the Panthers lost 18 of their subsequent 19 games, resulting in Davis, who has the highest winning percentage (.429) in program history, being dismissed after a 1-11 season.

The university has produced a total of 10 NFL Draft selections throughout its history, with none since 2020. The most notable NFL alumnus is four-time Pro Bowl receiver and 2010 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, T.Y. Hilton.

(Photo: Rich Storry / Getty Images)