FIU football coach Willie Simmons agrees to contract extension
12/23/2025
By Walter Villa
FIU football coach Willie Simmons has agreed to a contract extension and a raise, according to a source close to the program. Under terms of the agreement, Simmons will get an extra year in his contract. Originally, his contract was for $750,000 per year and due to expire at the end of the 2028 season. Now, the contract calls for an annual salary of $850,000, and it is due to expire at the end of the 2029 season.
In addition, FIU has agreed to increase the pool of money that is allocated for the assistant coaches. Importantly, FIU has committed to make more NIL money available for players. Bottom line: FIU is showing a commitment to Simmons after the coach inherited a 4-8 team and transformed the Panthers into a 7-5 squad that on Friday will play the program’s first bowl game since 2019. Indeed, FIU will play Texas-San Antonio in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas.
It’s a stunning turnaround, especially when one considers the amount of talent that FIU lost following last season. The list includes record-breaking wide receiver, Eric Rivers, who left for Georgia Tech after catching 62 passes for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. In addition, wide receiver Dean Patterson also left for Georgia Tech; running back Lexington Joseph graduated after rushing for more than 1,100 yards in his career; and linebacker Travion Barnes departed for Baylor after a 129-tackle season.
But Simmons didn’t flinch in his first season as an FBS head coach. He retained Jovan Dewitt as defensive coordinator. Simmons also brought in two coordinators who had been at Alabama-Birmingham: Nick Coleman (offense/quarterbacks) and Kenneth Gilstrap (special teams/safeties). FIU scored 26.3 points per game in 2024 and that number climbed to 29.3 this year. Besides directing the entire offense, Coleman deserves credit for the work he did with quarterbacks Keyone Jenkins and Joe Pesansky, a transfer from Holy Cross who had never played FBS football prior to this season. FIU went 3-0 with Pesansky as a starter, and that saved its season.
On defense, FIU’s numbers allowed 25.8 points last season and 27.8 in 2025. However, FIU went 5-2 down the stretch as its defense allowed an improved 24.7 points per game during that span. Gilstrap organized a talented special-teams unit led by UAB transfer Noah Grant, who made 14-of-18 on field goals and 25-of-25 on extra points. C’Quan Jnopierre averaged 24.0 yards per kickoff return; Trey Wilhoit averaged 43.9 yards per punt; and Maguire Anderson, Jose Corbo, Bobby Salla Jr. and Ross Fournet powered a ferocious kick-coverage unit. At safety – a unit also coached by Gilstrap – FIU started two freshmen (Jessiah McGrew and Shamir Sterlin) who became perhaps the best tandem in the league. McGrew, just a few months removed from high school, intercepted four passes.
Simmons also brought in other coaches who were highly successful this season. Benedick Hyppolite, who came over from the University of Miami, helped Kejon Owens break the program single-season rushing record with 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns. Frank Ponce, the associate head coach, helped bring along true freshman tight end Jackson Verdugo; Edwin Pata did a solid job with an offensive line led by center Julius Pierce and guard Jaheim Buchanon; and Jelani Berassa helped bring along the wide receivers with the help of Alex Perry (53 catches, 816 yards and nine touchdowns). On defensive, Kenechi Udeze coached an underrated d-line led by Keegan Davis and Kenton Simmons; linebackers coach Ryan Smith mentored leading tackler Johnny Chaney Jr.; and cornerbacks coach Anthony Gaitor had a great year with first-team All-Conference-USA player Mister Clark and also Brian Blades II.
In addition to all of that, Simmons has put together a first-class football support staff led by Jose Jefferson, the program’s general manager/director of player personnel.
