Jess Simpson

Jess Simpson, a metro Atlanta native with more than 30 years of coaching experience at the high school, college and National Football League levels, joins Georgia Tech’s staff as defensive line coach.

Most recently before his arrival on The Flats, Simpson spent two seasons at Atlantic Coast Conference rival Duke, where he coached the defensive line, while also serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2022 and associate head coach for defense in 2023.

Working alongside current Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci in 2023, Simpson’s defensive front played a big role in Duke fielding the ACC’s top-ranked scoring defense (19.0 points per game), which was good for 16^th nationally.

Simpson’s ACC coaching experience also includes two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive line coach at Miami (Fla.) – 2018 and 2021. He also has three seasons of NFL coaching experience with the Atlanta Falcons, beginning as a defensive assistant in 2017, followed by two seasons as the Falcons’ defensive line coach (2019-20).

Prior to moving to the NFL in 2017, Simpson was one of the most successful coaches in Georgia high school football history, compiling a 164-12 (.932) record, winning seven state championships and appearing in 10-straight state title games in 12 seasons as the head coach at Buford H.S. (2005-16).

He is married to the former Tricia Collins of Powder Springs, Ga. The couple has four children – Luke (wife: Dana), Roman, Jake and Emma, and a granddaughter, Melda Ruth.

FULL BIOGRAPHY

Jess Simpson, a metro Atlanta native with more than 30 years of coaching experience at the high school, college and National Football League levels, joins Georgia Tech’s staff as defensive line coach.

Most recently before his arrival on The Flats, Simpson spent two seasons at Atlantic Coast Conference rival Duke, where he coached the defensive line, while also serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2022 and associate head coach for defense in 2023.

In his two seasons at Duke, Simpson directed a staunch defensive front that helped lead the Blue Devils to 17 wins (just one shy of the program’s combined win total from the four seasons prior to his arrival), including victories in the 2022 Military Bowl and 2023 Birmingham Bowl.

Working alongside current Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci in 2023, Simpson’s defensive front played a big role in Duke fielding the ACC’s top-ranked scoring defense (19.0 points per game), which was good for 16^th nationally. The Blue Devils also ranked among the nation’s top 50 in rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, tackles for loss, third-down defense, fourth-down defense and red-zone defense in ’23.

In 2022, the Blue Devils’ defensive front helped Duke rank first nationally in fumble recoveries (16), second in turnover margin (+1.23/game), ninth in takeaways (26) and 23^rd in sacks (2.8/game), while also allowing just 121.1 rushing yards per game, good for fourth in the ACC.

Under Simpson’s tutelage, Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter earned all-America and all-ACC honors in both 2022 and 2023, while DT Aeneas Peebles also earned all-conference recognition.

Simpson’s ACC coaching experience also includes two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive line coach at Miami (Fla.) – 2018 and 2021. In his first season at Miami, the Hurricanes led the country in tackles for loss, third-down defense and passing defense, while ranking No. 4 in total defense. In ’21, Miami ranked eighth nationally in TFL and in the top 50 in sacks, rushing defense, third-down defense and fourth-down defense. His pupils included all-America defensive tackle Gerald Willis III in 2018.

Simpson also has three seasons of NFL coaching experience with the Atlanta Falcons, beginning as a defensive assistant in 2017, followed by two seasons as the Falcons’ defensive line coach (2019-20). Most notably, Simpson coached All-Pro defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, who compiled 176 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 35 TFL and 50 quarterback hits and earned back-to-back Pro Bowl invitations (2019-20) during Simpson’s three seasons on the Falcons’ staff.

Prior to moving to the NFL in 2017, Simpson was one of the most successful coaches in Georgia high school football history, compiling a 164-12 (.932) record, winning seven state championships and appearing in 10-straight state title games in 12 seasons as the head coach at Buford H.S. (2005-16). In total, he spent 21 years (1995-96, 1998-2016) at Buford, helped lead the Wolves to 10 state titles as a head coach and coordinator. Buford set the state’s all-time record with a 47-game winning streak from 2001-04, with Simpson serving as the Wolves’ defensive coordinator.

His high school coaching career also included one season as the head coach at East Paulding H.S. (1997) and one season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Marietta H.S.

Simpson played tight end collegiately at Auburn. He was a member of the Tigers’ Southeastern Conference championship team in 1989 and earned letters in 1990 and ’91, helping lead Auburn to 1990 Hall of Fame Bowl and 1991 Peach Bowl berths. He then began his coaching career as a student assistant with the Tigers in 1992 and ’93. He graduated from Auburn in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing education, before going on to earn master’s degrees in education from North Georgia (2002) and educational leadership and administration from Alabama (2005).

He is married to the former Tricia Collins of Powder Springs, Ga. The couple has four children – Luke (wife: Dana), Roman, Jake and Emma, and a granddaughter, Melda Ruth. Roman played football at Army West point and is  first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Jake played football at Wake Forest.