Unbelievable:Simpson joins newly elected trusted as Alabama new head coach….

Unbelievable:Simpson joins newly elected trusted as Alabama new head coach….

Vanderbilt University head coach Clark Lea, Rice University head coach Mike Bloomgren, Colorado State University head coach Jay Norvell and Virginia Union University head coach Alvin Parker to the Board of Trustees of the AFCA after being elected by members attending the 2024 AFCA Convention. Lea will represent the Southeastern Conference, Bloomgren will represent the American Athletic Conference, Norvell will represent the Mountain West Conference, Simpson will be an FCS representative and Parker will be a Division II representative.

Those coaches will join a group of distinguished head coaches who guide the organization. The Board formulates policy and provides direction for the AFCA, which was founded in 1922 by Amos Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman and others. Returning members of the AFCA Board of Trustees include incoming president Jeff McMartin of Central College, first vice-president Bobby Hauck of the University of Montana, second vice-president Neal Brown of West Virginia University and third vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest College.

Also serving on the Board in 2024 are: Steve Ryan, Morningside University; James Franklin, Penn State University; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest University; Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State University; Mike MacIntyre, Florida International University; Maurice Linguist, University at Buffalo; Kane Wommack, University of South Alabama; Mike Babcock, McKendree University; Randy Bates, University of Pittsburgh; ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee; Van Malone, Kansas State University, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. AFCA Executive Director Craig Bohl serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.

The longest tenured head football coach in the Ohio Valley Conference, Simpson recently completed his 18th season at UT Martin. He has an overall record of 115-87 and his 115 career victories rank fourth in OVC history while his 87 conference wins sits in third place. The Skyhawks have won four OVC titles, all under Simpson in 2006, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Simpson is a two-time OVC Coach of the Year and was named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2006. He has coached 38 All-Americans and 160 All-Conference players in his 18 years. After playing football at Mississippi State, Simpson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 1995. He spent one season at Collins High School in Mississippi before returning to college coaching at Jacksonville State in 1997. Simpson spent three seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the Gamecocks before going to Texas State as the quarterbacks coach in 2000. After three years with the Bobcats, Simpson coached at Chattanooga from 2003-05 before becoming the head coach at UT Martin in 2006.