With release of 2025 schedule, new FIU football coach Simmons looks ahead to challenge at Penn State
The recently released 2025 schedule; the transfer portal vs. freshman recruits; and what appears to be a cohesive coaching staff — those were among the topics new FIU football coach Willie Simmons discussed in an interview with the Miami Herald this week.
Here are some of the highlights:
1: TRIP TO HAPPY VALLEY: The name that jumps out when looking at FIU’s 2025 schedule is Penn State, which is coming off an impressive 13-3 season. The Nittany Lions made it to the College Football Playoff semifinals in Miami, losing 27-24 to Notre Dame.
FIU will visit Beaver Stadium — nicknamed Happy Valley — on Sept. 6.
Simmons said that, if allowed, he will take his team to mammoth Beaver Stadium — capacity 106,572 — on the day before the game in an attempt to take some of the mystique out of the place.
“I just worked with [Duke coach] Manny Diaz, who was previously [a defensive coordinator] at Penn State,” Simmons said. “[Diaz] raved about his time at Penn State, the game-day experience and the environment. I’m looking forward to seeing it in person.”
Simmons also said he has great respect for Penn State coach James Franklin. They have known each other since Franklin was at Vanderbilt and Simmons was 35 minutes away at Middle Tennessee.
“I’m happy to see another minority coach have success,” Simmons said of Franklin.
“It’s a great opportunity for FIU. If you look at some of the mid-major programs who have made a mark like Appalachian State when they went to the Big House and beat Michigan … You think about all the Boise State wins that are no longer called upsets.
“We have a long way to go to get there, but that’s what I envision for this program.”
2: FAU IS NEXT: One week after visiting Penn State, FIU will play host to Florida Atlantic in the annual game known as the Shula Bowl.
FIU has lost seven straight games in the rivalry.
“We know how big that game is here from a recruiting standpoint and for bragging rights,” Simmons said. “You really judge your program most of the time by how you perform against your rival.
“We want to bring the Shula Bowl trophy back to Miami, and keep it here for as long as possible.”
3: TRANSFER PORTAL: Simmons said he will assess his roster after spring practice, which begins March 4.
But Simmons also indicated that his desired form of talent acquisition is through the high school ranks as opposed to transfers. And, with many schools focused more on the portal, FIU may be able to “steal” some standout freshmen.
“I feel there is an opportunity for programs who still believe in development,” Simmons said. “FIU is a development program. We believe in high school recruiting.
“The bulk of our class each year will be high school kids and not transfers.”
4: COHESIVE GROUP: Simmons said defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt commented recently about how quickly FIU’s coaching staff has come together.
“It seems like we’ve been together for a long time,” Simmons said. “But we’ve only been together for a month.
“That’s really what I looked to build when I put this staff together — having coaches who are family-oriented, believe in development and who will pour themselves into the lives of these young people.
“The closest staffs bring about the closest teams. And the closest teams win the most games.”
Simmons said “getting along” is not the prerequisite.
“There are families that don’t always get along. But when it comes to family matters, they are united,” Simmons said.
“We don’t have to sing ‘Kumbaya’ to be a successful team. But we have to be a connected team. We have to value each other’s opinions. We have to not care who gets the credit, and we have to put the team first.”