Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer moves position responsibility from linebackers to safeties;
Safeties coach Neighbors and running backs coach White depart program
TAMPA, JAN. 15, 2021 – USF head coach Jeff Scott today announced the promotion of defensive quality control analyst Ernie Sims to linebackers coach and the departure of two members of the coaching staff.
Safeties coach Wes Neighbors and running backs coach Pat White have departed the program for other opportunities. Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer will move from his positional coaching duties with the linebackers to coaching safeties.
“I’m very pleased to elevate Ernie to our primary coaching staff and know he will do an excellent job with our linebackers,” Scott said. “He brings tremendous energy every day and obviously had a very successful career as a linebacker. We are excited to get him on the field every day with that unit.”
The No. 9 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions in 2006, Sims played eight NFL seasons with four teams, finishing his NFL playing career in 2013 with the Dallas Cowboys. The Tallahassee native recorded 623 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception in the NFL. He started all 16 games in his rookie season with the Lions, collecting 124 tackles and was a team captain for the 2007 Lions. He posted 100-plus tackles in each of his first three seasons with the Lions before being traded to Philadelphia in 2010. He posted at least 40 tackles in each of his final five NFL seasons, finishing his career with 42 tackles for Dallas in 2013.
A Parade and USA Today prep All-American at North Florida Christian High School in Tallahassee, Sims was rated the No. 1 recruit in the nation by Rivals prior to signing with Florida State in 2003.
At Florida State, Sims played for Bobby Bowden and made an instant impact, playing in all 13 games including the Orange Bowl in his freshman season. The following year, he was named an ESPN first team All-American and a second-team All-ACC selection after posting 86 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks. He was named a Sporting News preseason All-American prior to the 2005 campaign and went on to post 72 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while helping lead the Seminoles back to the Orange Bowl. He entered the NFL Draft following his junior campaign and completed his FSU career with 200 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and seven sacks in three seasons.
Following his NFL career, Sims started the Big Hits Foundation to mentor youth and returned to Florida State to complete his degree in social science in 2018.
He began his collegiate coaching career as part of Lane Kiffin’s staff at FAU as an assistant strength and conditioning coordinator in 2018. FAU promoted Sims to director of football operations in 2019 and FAU went on to post an 11-3 record, winning the Conference USA championship before defeating SMU in the Boca Raton Bowl.
In 2020, he joined Scott’s first staff at USF as a defensive quality control analyst working alongside Spencer, who also joined USF’s staff after holding the same position at FAU the previous season.
Sims and his wife, Brooke, have three children: Ernie (9), Major (6) and Savannah (3).
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ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and will celebrate its 25th season (22nd at the FBS level) in 2021. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections, and have seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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