A Seminoles legend gets the chance as a position coach at his alma mater.
Florida State didn’t have to look far to fill the role of linebackers coach, with the Seminoles reportedly elevating assistant linebackers coach Ernie Sims into the big chair following the departure of John Papuchis to Missouri.
The news was first reported by Noles247 on Thursday and confirmed by Warchant.
Sims joined the Florida State coaching staff in April 2024 as a defensive analyst before being elevated into the assistant linebackers coach position. He’s no stranger to working in the state of Florida — prior to coming home to Tallahassee, Sims coached linebackers at UCF and USF. He started his coaching career at FAU, first in strength and conditioning and then as a director of football operations.
As a player, Sims was a consensus No. 1 national recruit when he signed with the hometown Seminoles in 2003 and earned First-Team All-American status in 2004. He was drafted No. 9 by the Detroit Lions in the 2006 NFL Draft and played eight seasons in the NFL.
From his FSU bio:
Ernie Sims, an All-American and the No. 9 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Florida State, rejoined the Seminoles’ football program in April 2024 and currently serves as the assistant linebackers coach. He was a defensive analyst for the Seminoles in 2024.
Sims served as UCF’s linebackers coach in 2023. There, he guided Jason Johnson to first-team All-Big 12 recognition after Johnson’s total of 114 tackles ranked second in the Big 12 and 26th nationally. The Knights won six games in their first season in the Big 12 and played in the Gasparilla Bowl behind a defense that ranked in the top-five in the conference in passing yards allowed, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and sacks.
Sims was on staff at South Florida from 2020-22, spending the 2020 season as an analyst before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2021 and serving as the Bulls’ defensive coordinator for the final three games of the 2022 season. At South Florida, Sims coached Antonio Grier to second-team All-AAC recognition. Sims began his collegiate coaching career in 2018 as FAU’s strength and conditioning coordinator before spending the 2019 season as director of football operations.
At the time of his selection by the Detroit Lions, Sims was the 12th top-10 pick from Florida State. He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2006 after starting all 16 games of his rookie season and recording 124 tackles. His 134 tackles in 2007 ranked fourth in the league. Appearing in 109 games for the Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys over his eight-year NFL career, Sims accumulated 623 total tackles, with 26.0 for loss and 5.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.
A Tallahassee native, Sims attended North Florida Christian and was rated the No. 1 overall recruit nationally in the Class of 2003. In his three seasons at Florida State, Sims helped the Seminoles win 27 games and two ACC championships, including the inaugural ACC Championship Game over No. 5 Virginia Tech in 2005. He was named a first-team All-American in 2004 and finished his career with 200 tackles, 21.0 for loss with 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
Sims returned to school after his NFL career and completed his bachelor’s degree in social science from Florida State in 2018. He and his wife, Brooke, have four children, Ernie IV, Major, Savannah and Bella.
Category: General Sports
