Mike Simmonds came to UWG as the Wolves’ offensive line coach in early 2026.
Simmonds, a 30-plus year veteran of coaching, comes to Carrollton after a two-year stint as the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Indiana State.
The 2025 season was his 20th in collegiate coaching and Simmonds also has stops at UTEP, Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois, North Texas, and South Florida.
In 2023 at UTEP, Simmonds was named the Conference USA Offensive Line Coach of the Year, working through a season that saw nine different starting lineups up front for the Miners. His offensive line group featured the C-USA Offensive Tackle of the Year (Zuri Henry) and Center of the Year (Andrew Meyer). From 2019-2023, and impressive 13 UTEP offensive linemen finished on the C-USA All-Conference teams while blocking for three different 1,000-yard receivers and averaging over 2,000 rushing yards and 4,000 yards of total offense per season.
Prior to his six season in El Paso, Simmonds was the o-line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Northern Iowa. His offense led the nation (FCS) in red zone offense, converting at a 92 percent clip. Under his tutelage, wide receiver Daurice Fountain was named 2017 MVFC All-Conference first team, while offensive lineman Lee Carhart was named 2017 MVFC All-Conference second team. Two additional players earned honorable mention All-League recognition.
Simmonds spent the 2016 season at Eastern Illinois and coached at North Texas from 2011-15, helping the Mean Green transition from the Sun Belt to C-USA. In 2014, the Mean Green ranked first in the nation in red zone offense with the team rushing for 21 touchdowns, eighth-most in program history.
During his stint at North Texas, Simmonds coached eight players to All-Conference honors with his group blocking for the school’s all-time leading rusher Lance Dunbar. In 2011, the offensive line led the way for Dunbar’s school record-setting performance of 313 yards against Middle Tennessee.
Prior to joining the staff at North Texas, Simmonds coached one season at his alma mater, Indiana State, helping the Sycamores post a 6-5 record for the program’s first winning season since 1996. Prior to the six wins, ISU had won two games in the previous five seasons.
Simmonds was on the staff at South Florida from 2006-09. In his first season, he worked as a graduate assistant coach before taking over offensive line duties in 2007.
A former All-American at Indiana State, Simmons started 46 career games for the Sycamores and was a member of their 1983 and 1984 FCS Playoff teams. Following his collegiate career, he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL Draft. Simmonds played four seasons in the NFL with Tampa Bay and San Diego.
Simmonds began his coaching career at the high school level, coaching at multiple high schools in the Tampa Area and coaching in a total of three FHSAA State Championship games: 1996, 2002, and 2004.
Simmonds was inducted into the Indiana State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. He was named to both the Gateway Conference 20th Anniversary Team and the Gateway Conference All-Decade Team (1980’s). He and his wife, Jamie, have three daughters – Amanda, Lauren and Emily.
