Duke University has made significant coaching changes, with Manny Diaz, the new head coach, hiring Jonathan Patke as the defensive coordinator and targeting Willie Simmons, the head coach of Florida A&M, as the running backs coach. Patke has previously worked with Diaz at Miami, Mississippi State, and Louisiana Tech. Lyle Hemphill has been hired as the defensive coordinator for James Madison, having previously been at Duke. Duke has also named Jonathan Brewer as the offensive coordinator and hired Justin Watts as the tight ends coach. Simmons has an impressive coaching record, with a 39-8 overall record at Florida A&M, including a 12-1 season. The hiring of Simmons is expected to be finalized soon.
Willie Simmons and Manny Diaz spent 3 seasons together on the Middle Tennessee staff together (07-09). Duke's newly hired TEs coach Justin Watts also worked with Simmons (and Diaz) at MTSU. https://t.co/XUZ2gIlRBl
Heard some buzz about Willie Simmons potentially leaving. Now it would seem it’s happening. He did some incredible things at FAMU and this is a logical, necessary step towards him landing an FBS head coaching job. https://t.co/J5XBbRykDL
Source: Florida A&M coach Willie Simmons is expected to leave to become running backs coach at Duke under Manny Diaz. Simmons went 12-1 this year at FAMU, which pushed for him to stay. He last coached in the FBS as Middle Tennessee offensive coordinator in 2011.
Duke is expected to get this done and is expected to hire Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons as its new running backs coach under Manny Diaz, sources tell @247sports. Simmons led FAMU to a 39-8 record the last four years, including 12-1 this season. https://t.co/dJORJ80Uo5 https://t.co/EGOwF1DXlF https://t.co/ljkkWM9xUc
Texas A&M set to hire Duke special teams/tight ends coach @Coach_Dougherty in same role. https://t.co/rG0gqAMNp2
Source confirms Duke is pursuing Florida A&M coach Willie Simmons for its running backs job, as @mzenitz reported earlier. FAMU obviously wants to keep Simmons in place, especially after a 12-1 season. A decision is expected by the end of the weekend.
Re: FAMU coach Willie Simmons. Has done a great job and needs to break into FBS somehow if that’s his ultimate goal https://t.co/2x1JcYuWXJ
10/10 hire if Duke lands Willie Simmons. Love an assistant coach with head coaching experience
Duke is targeting Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons for its running backs coach job, sources tell @247sports. Simmons has led Florida A&M to a 39-8 record the last four years, including a 12-1 mark this year. Simmons and Manny Diaz previously worked together at Middle… https://t.co/EcoRtU9Ol9
Dukes names Jonathan Patke defensive coordinator.
From late last night: Duke has found its defensive coordinator, with new coach Manny Diaz tabbing Texas State’s Jonathan Patke. They worked together at Miami, Mississippi Stare and Louisiana Tech. https://t.co/iAAVzTjDbi
Sources: Duke is set to hire Texas State defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke as the school’s new defensive coordinator. Patke worked with Duke coach Manny Diaz at Miami, Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech. He’s also worked as a defensive coordinator at Incarnate Word.
Jonathan Brewer named Duke offensive coordinator.
Source: James Madison is set to hire Lyle Hemphill as defensive coordinator. He had been at Duke this past season. Other defensive assistants include Zach Sparber (LBs), Eddie Whitley Jr. (CBs), Sam Daniels (DL) and Anthony DiMichele (safeties).