Promoted to linebackers coach in January 2021, Sims was part of head coach Jeff Scott’s first USF staff in the 2020 season as a defensive quality control analyst. He went on to serve as co-defensive coordinator for the final game of the 2021 season and defensive coordinator for the final three games of 2022.
In 2022, Sims helped guide linebacker Dwayne Boyles to a career-best 108 tackles and team-bests of 10 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to go with a sack and an interception. Meanwhile, while first-year Bulls linebacker DJ Gordon finished second on the team with 67 tackles and added 6.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Boyles season tackle total ranked 8
th in program history and he increased his career tackle total to 315, good for seventh all-time at USF.
In his first season as linebackers coach, he helped guide linebacker Antonio Grier to team leading totals in tackles (92), tackles for loss (8) and sacks (3) and tied for the team lead in interceptions (2) and forced fumbles (2) while earning second team All-AAC honors from conference coaches and first team from Pro Football Network.
Sims was named co-interim defensive coordinator with Daniel Da Prato for the final game of USF's 2021 season vs. UCF following the dismissal of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer. They led a Bulls’ defense that held the Knights to 17 points, 12 first downs and 285 yards, well below their season average, in a close 17-13 loss in Orlando.
The No. 9 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions in 2006, Sims played eight NFL seasons with four teams, finishing his NFL playing career in 2013 with the Dallas Cowboys. The Tallahassee native recorded 623 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception in the NFL. He started all 16 games in his rookie season with the Lions, collecting 124 tackles and was a team captain for the 2007 Lions. He posted 100-plus tackles in each of his first three seasons with the Lions before being traded to Philadelphia in 2010. He posted at least 40 tackles in each of his final five NFL seasons, finishing his career with 42 tackles for Dallas in 2013.
A Parade and USA Today prep All-American at North Florida Christian High School in Tallahassee, Sims was rated the No. 1 recruit in the nation by Rivals prior to signing with Florida State in 2003.
At Florida State, Sims played for Bobby Bowden and made an instant impact, playing in all 13 games including the Orange Bowl in his freshman season. The following year, he was named an ESPN first team All-American and a second-team All-ACC selection after posting 86 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks. He was named a Sporting News preseason All-American prior to the 2005 campaign and went on to post 72 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while helping lead the Seminoles back to the Orange Bowl. He entered the NFL Draft following his junior campaign and completed his FSU career with 200 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and seven sacks in three seasons.
Following his NFL career, Sims started the Big Hits Foundation to mentor youth and returned to Florida State to complete his degree in social science in 2018.
He began his collegiate coaching career as part of Lane Kiffin’s staff at FAU as an assistant strength and conditioning coordinator in 2018. FAU promoted Sims to director of football operations in 2019 and FAU went on to post an 11-3 record, winning the Conference USA championship before defeating SMU in the Boca Raton Bowl.
In 2020, he joined Scott’s first staff at USF as a defensive quality control analyst working alongside defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer, who also joined USF’s staff after holding the same position at FAU the previous season.
Sims and his wife, Brooke, have three children: Ernie (10), Major (7) and Savannah (4).
