Mike Simmonds enters his sixth campaign as UTEP's offensive line coach in 2023. Simmonds is in his 30th year of coaching overall, and 18th at the collegiate level.
In 2022, UTEP's offensive line surrendered only 2.0 sacks per games, ranking middle of the pack in Conference USA and tied for 57th nationally. The Miners efforts on the line helped the rushers gain over 2,000 yards on the ground, while rushing for 14 TDs.
Jeremiah Byers was named first team All-CUSA following the campaign. The Miners produced a pair of running backs who rushed for over 700 yards as Ronald Awatt led the squad with 734 yards and Deion Hankins went for 701). Reyanldo Flores rushed for 276 yards on only 38 attempts (7.3 avg.) and a team-high five TDs. The offensive line helped produce four 100-yard efforts combined. Awatt rushed for 115 in win over rival NM State, Hankins went for 138 in a win over FAU, and 112 in a victory at Charlotte. Flores rushed for 128 yards in a thrashing over FIU.
Simmonds’ O-line ranked tied third in CUSA in sacks allowed per game (1.46), while ranking tied 21st nationally in 2021.
Jeremiah Byers, Bobby DeHaro, Elijah Klein, Darta Lee and Andrew Meyer – all starters on the offensive line from the 2021 campaign – were named honorable mention All-C-USA. Backup center Robert Mervin stepped in for an injured Meyer and started against New Mexico.
The line helped pave the way for the offense to average 392.0 yards per game, the most by a UTEP offense since 2009. The Miners also rushed for 140.0 yards per game and created holes for 18 rushing scores.
Gavin Hardison played behind a big line that helped produce the best numbers by a UTEP QB in over 10 seasons. Hardison was the first UTEP QB since 2009 to throw for 3,000 yards. Hardison’s 3,217 yards passing in 2021 are the fifth most during a single season in program history. Hardison’s 18 touchdown passes were the most since 2010.
The Miners' work in the trenches produced a record-setting freshman campaign from running back Deion Hankins in 2020. The El Paso native rushed for 592 yards and nine touchdowns in only seven games, eclipsing the 100-yard mark on three occasions. As a team, UTEP averaged 138.9 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns -- only two fewer than they produced in five more games in 2020. The line also yielded 1.7 sacks per contest -- down from 2.9 the year prior -- as Gavin Hardison had a breakthrough season. The sophomore from Hobbs, N.M. threw for 1,419 yards, 202.7 per game. Two UTEP offensive linemen (Bobby DeHaro, Andrew Meyer) earned honorable mention All-Conference USA recognition. It marked the third consecutive year that DeHaro garnered honorable mention accolades.
In 2019, Simmonds' unit paved the way for senior running back Treyvon Hughes to rush for 12 touchdowns, tied for the sixth-top seasonal total in school history. As a team, the Miners rushed for 138.2 yards per game with 18 scores.
Simmonds' o-line was bolstered by the return of center Derron Gatewood from injury. Gatewood closed out a stellar Miner career in which he made 34 starts over his final three seasons. He was tabbed second team All-Conference USA as a senior. Joining Gatewood as a starter in all 12 games for 2019 was left guard DeHaro.
Simmonds directed a group that sustained multiple injuries in 2018, forcing him to employ 10 different starting lineup combinations in 12 games. DeHaro was the only Miner to start all 12 contests. Zuri Henry started eight contests at the left tackle position during his true freshman season. Jerrod Brooks, who made nine starts, received an invite to the Kansas City Chiefs rookie minicamp.
Behind the efforts of the o-line, Quardraiz Wadley rushed for 627 yards and seven scores in 2018. Quarterback Kai Locksley gained 340 yards and six touchdowns, while Hughes rambled for 320 yards and a score.
Simmonds is from Belleville, Ill., playing his prep football at Belleville West HS and his college football at Indiana State, followed by a four-year career as an offensive lineman in the National Football League.
Prior to UTEP, Simmonds coached at Northern Iowa where he was the offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator. Northern Iowa led the nation (FCS) in red zone offense, converting on 92 percent of its opportunities (51 att., 31 TD, 16 FG). UNI averaged 29.4 points per game in 2017, while averaging 354.7 yards of total offense in 13 games (8-5 overall record). The Panthers also averaged 235.6 passing yards per contest. Panthers quarterbacks combined for 3,063 yards on 255-of-408 passing (62.5 percent), 28 passing scores and only 12 interceptions. WR Daurice Fountain (66 rec., 943 yards, 12 TD) was named 2017 MVFC All-Conference first team, while OL Lee Carhart was named 2017 MVFC All-Conference second team. TE Briley Moore (38 rec., 494 yards) and RB Marcus Weymiller (200 att., 809 yards, eight TDs) earned honorable mention All-League recognition. Northern Iowa’s time of possession (32:05) ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference.
In 2016, Simmonds directed the offensive line at Eastern Illinois. Tackle Evan Kanz earned second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, helping a group that carved holes for the OVC’s leading rusher, Devin Church, to run through. The offensive line finished the 2016 season ranked 36th in the FCS in fewest sacks allowed.
Simmonds coached at North Texas from 2011-15, as the Mean Green transitioned from the Sun Belt Conference to Conference USA. Employing a physical style of play at the offensive line position, Simmonds' group paved the way to three 2,000-yard rushing seasons in five years with the team falling just short of that mark in 2015, averaging 158.7 yards per game on the ground.
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. The team was anchored by one of the best lineman in school history, as Cyril Lemon earned his fourth straight All-Conference honor on the offensive line. Lemon was the only player in the nation to start 49 straight games and earn four consecutive All-Conference honors.
In 2013 North Texas posted three 300-yard rushing games, as Simmonds' offensive line group had seven such performances during his time on the staff. The 2013 team finished the year with 2,349 yards, the eighth-most in school history, as it posted a 9-4 record, winning the Heart of Dallas Bowl over UNLV. That group was one of the best in nation in terms of protecting the quarterback as they finished seventh among FBS teams in fewest sacks allowed.
Over a two-year span North Texas twice ranked in the top-10 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed with 17 during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. In 2012, North Texas played nine of its 12 games without allowing a sack. On the ground, the offensive line helped three running backs finish with more than 500 yards for the first time in school history in 2012.
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 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. During his time with the USF program, the Bulls led the Big East Conference in total offense in 2008, averaging 405.0 yards per game. The team was third in the conference in rushing offense at 165.4 yards per game. During his three seasons as a full-time coach USF was nationally ranked during each season, climbing as high as No. 2 in the national polls during the 2007 campaign. All four years on the staff USF played in a bowl game, with appearances in the PapaJohns.com Bowl, Sun Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl and International Bowl. USF was 3-1 in bowl games with Simmonds on the staff with 34 overall wins.
A graduate of Indiana State, Simmonds started 46 games in his career, earning I-AA All-American honors. He was a member of the Sycamores' 1983 and 1984 FCS playoff teams. 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. He started at offensive guard for Tampa Bay in 1989, part of an offense that earned NFC Players of the Week in a game against Chicago.
Following his professional career, Simmonds was a successful high school coach in the Tampa area before joining the USF staff. He coached six years as an assistant at Hillsborough HS, helping the team win 54 games. From 1998-2005 he was the head coach at Jefferson HS in Tampa, posting a 75-29 overall record. He coached in FHSAA State Championship Games three times in 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.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2018-Present: UTEP (Offensive Line)
2017: Northern Iowa (Offensive Line)
2016: Eastern Illinois (Offensive Line)
2011-2015: North Texas (Offensive Line)
2010: Indiana State (Offensive Line)
2006-2009: South Florida (Offensive Line)
1998-2005: Jefferson High School, Tampa, Fla. (Head Coach)
1992-1997: Hillsborough High School, Tampa, Fla. (Offensive Line)
