Phil Simpson

Phil Simpson is in his first season as Nebraska's outside linebackers coach in 2025. Simpson is in his second stint on Matt Rhule's Husker staff after serving as a defensive quality control coach in 2023.

In between his time at Nebraska, Simpson worked as a senior defensive analyst at Florida State in 2024. Simpson is in his third straight season coaching at a Power Four school following a nine-year high school coaching career in Florida. 

As a college coach, Simpson has gained experience in the Big Ten and the ACC. In his first season at Nebraska in 2023, Simpson worked with a Husker defense that ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense.

 At the high school level, Simpson spent four years as the head coach at Homestead High School following five years as a high school assistant. Simpson led Homestead to a 23-4 record in his final two seasons with a trip to the state championship game in 2022.

NEBRASKA (2023)
In his first season at Nebraska in 2023, Simpson served as a defensive quality control coach. He worked with a Husker defense that ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense. Nebraska posted its best statistical defense of the Big Ten era during Simpson's first season in Lincoln.

Nebraska ranked eighth nationally by allowing only 92.9 rushing yards per game, the program’s fewest rushing yards per game since 1999. The Blackshirts were 11th nationally in total defense, allowing the program’s fewest yards per game (303.5) since 2009. Nebraska also allowed only 18.3 points per game, ranking 13th nationally in that category while allowing the program’s fewest points per game since 2010. Nebraska held nine of its 12 opponents to 20 or fewer points, limited six opponents to fewer than 300 total yards and held eight opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards. The Huskers also posted their highest sack total (32) since 2014 and most tackles for loss (76) since 2016.

BEFORE NEBRASKA
FLORIDA STATE: In between his time at Nebraska, Simpson worked as a senior defensive analyst at Florida State in 2024. His worked helped the Seminoles rank second in the ACC in pass defense in his lone season in Tallahassee.

HOMESTEAD (FLA.) HS: Simpson was the head coach at Homestead High School for four seasons from 2019 to 2022. In his final season, Simpson led Homestead to the 2022 Class 3M state championship game, the school’s first state title game. The Broncos went 23-4 over Simpson’s final two seasons, and he was named the Miami Herald Coach of the Year in 2021.

SOUTHRIDGE (FLA.) HS: Simpson coached at Southridge High School for four seasons from 2015 to 2018, serving as the defensive line coach in his first year before being promoted to defensive coordinator for his final three seasons. He helped the Spartans to a state championship in 2016.

PALMETTO (FLA.) HS: Simpson began his coaching career as an assistant at Palmetto High School in 2014.

PLAYING CAREER (TEMPLE)
Simpson was a defensive lineman at Temple from 2004 to 2007. Matt Rhule was on the Owl staff for Simpson’s final two seasons, including the 2006 season as Simpson’s defensive line coach. Simpson played in 24 games at Temple, recording 39 tackles.

PERSONAL
Simpson earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Temple in 2004. He and his wife, Maria Molano, have five sons, Emmanuel Belegrave, Philip Simpson Jr., Nicholas Simpson, Abraham Jaimes and Solomon Simpson.

COACHING CAREER
2025: Nebraska (Outside Linebackers)
2024: Florida State (Senior Defensive Analyst)
2023: Nebraska (Defensive Quality Control)
2019-22: Homestead High School (Head Coach)
2016-18: Southridge High School (Defensive Coordinator)
2015: Southridge High School (Defensive Line)
2014: Palmetto High School (Assistant Coach)