Jess Simpson Is Going To Be Mike Elko's Co Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach At Duke
Jess Simpson is going to be Mike Elko’s Co Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach at Duke.
Jess Simpson brings to Durham over 25 years of coaching experience, including 12 years as a high school head coach where he won seven state titles and compiled a record of 164-12 (.932).
He comes to Duke after serving the 2021 season as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach at the University of Miami. The Hurricanes finished the year with a 7-5 mark and an invitation to the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Simpson mentored defensive tackles Leonard Taylor and Jared Harrison-Hunte as well as defensive ends Deandre Johnson and Zac McCloud during his second stint in Coral Gables. Each recorded at least 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks a year ago, with Taylor leading the team in tackles for loss with 9.5 and McCloud in sacks with 5.5. Between the four of them, they registered 13 quarterback pressures.
Jess Simpson also served in the same role for the Hurricanes during the 2018 season, where Miami ranked No. 4 in the country in total defense and ranked No. 1 in several categories such as tackles for loss, third down conversion percentage and passing yards allowed. Under Simpson's tutelage that year, defensive tackle Gerald Willis III earned Second Team All-America and All-ACC honors, while defensive end Joe Jackson was selected an Honorable Mention All-ACC recipient.
In between stops at Miami, Simpson spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons as the defensive line coach with the Atlanta Falcons. He also served as a defensive assistant with the Falcons in 2017. While in the NFL, Simpson helped the Falcons to 21 victories, including a 26-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the 2017 Wild Card game. In those three years in Atlanta, Simpson helped coach defensive lineman and two-time Pro Bowl selection Grady Jarrett, who compiled 176 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks and 50 quarterback pressures.
Prior to his collegiate and professional coaching career, Simpson spent 12 years (2005-16) as the Buford High School (Ga.) head coach, where he won seven state titles, compiled a record of 164-12 (.932) and led the Wolves to 10 consecutive state final appearances. In total, he spent 21 years (1995-96; 1998-2016) on the Buford coaching staff, helping the Wolves to 10 state titles as a head coach or coordinator. Simpson was Buford's defensive coordinator when the Wolves set the Georgia high school record with a 47-game winning streak from 2001-04.
Jess Simpson also served one-year stints as the head coach at East Paulding High School (Ga.) in 1997 and as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Marietta High School (Ga.) in 1994.
Jess Simpson was a two-year letterwinner (1990-91) at tight end at Auburn. He helped lead the Tigers to appearances in the 1990 Hall of Fame Bowl and the 1991 Peach Bowl. He was also a member of the team when Auburn claimed the 1989 SEC Championship. After his playing career, Simpson began his coaching tenure as a student assistant for the Tigers, working under Pat Dye and Terry Bowden for the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
“according to an article on goduke.com”