FAMU set to hire Prairie View A&M head coach Willie Simmons to lead football program under a 5-year deal

Willie Simmons, the Panthers’ coach for the past three season, was offered and has accepted the same position at Florida A&M and is reportedly expected to officially be announced sometime this weekend.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- A source close to Florida A&M's athletic department confirmed to the Tallahassee Democrat the football team's next head coach will be Prairie View A&M head coach Willie Simmons.

Simmons, 37, has been at the helm of Prairie View A&M for the last three seasons and has compiled a 21-11 record with the Panthers. Praised for overseeing strong offenses, Simmons has put together winning seasons in each of his three years as a head coach.

Before being hired at Prairie View, he was the offensive coordinator at Alcorn State. In 2014, Alcorn State won the Southwestern Athletic Conference title and were No. 2 in the FCS in scoring (44 points per game) with Simmons as the team's offensive coordinator.

The Panthers went 6-5 last season. The Panther's were third in the SWAC in scoring offense (30 points per game) and second in total offense (424.2 yards per game).

Simmons was born in Tallahassee and attended James A. Shanks in Quincy.

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