TAMPA, FLA. (January 22, 2007) -- Greg Gregory has been promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and graduate assistant Mike Simmonds has been named the offensive line coach at USF, head coach Jim Leavitt announced tonight. Gregory replaces Rod Smith, who has resigned his position, and Simmonds replaces Greg Frey, who was named the offensive line coach at West Virginia earlier this evening.
“Greg Gregory was a steadying influence on our offense throughout the past two seasons,” said Leavitt. “I have absolute confidence that he will step right in and lead our offense with strong command. He has a great deal of experience, and we're really looking forward to him taking over our offense.”
“Mike Simmonds proved himself all throughout the 2006 season while working in his graduate assistant role. He is very deserving of taking over the offensive line position, and his knowledge of the game and work ethic will be great assets.”
Gregory enjoys a wealth of top-level experience, including 13 seasons as an offensive coordinator and two as a head coach, all at the collegiate level. He first joined USF in 2005 as tight ends coach, after he had been an offensive coordinator for four successive seasons at Ohio (2000-2003) and Richmond (2004). He was the head coach at Missouri Southern State in 1998 and 1999.
Prior to Missouri Southern, Gregory had been on the staff at Army for 16 years, including seven (1991-97) as associate head coach and a total of nine (1989-97) as offensive coordinator. He also worked with receivers, running backs and quarterbacks at various stages in his 16 years at Army.
Simmonds joined the Bulls in 2006 after an ultra-successful career as a high school head coach in Tampa. He compiled a 75-29 record in eight seasons at Jefferson High, where he led the Dragons to the state championship game on 2002 and 2004. After a 2-8 debut in 1998, Simmonds led his program to seven consecutive appearances in the state playoffs. He was 17-7 in his postseason competition.
A graduate of Indiana State, Simmonds was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 (10th round), where he was a starting guard in 1989. Including time with Tampa Bay and San Diego, Simmonds was credited with four NFL seasons.
