Florida State University Athletics
Staff Directory
Ernie Sims
- Title:
- Linebackers Coach
TALLAHASSEE – Ernie Sims, an All-American at FSU and the No. 9 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, is in his third season on staff and first as linebackers coach in 2026.
Sims was a defensive analyst for the Seminoles in 2024 and served as assistant linebackers coach in 2025. During the 2025 season, he helped guide a group that featured five linebackers with at least 35 tackles on a defense that ranked second in the ACC in pass defense and in the top five in the conference in total defense and sacks per game.
Sims returned to Tallahassee after spending the 2023 season as UCF's linebackers coach. There, he guided Jason Johnson to first-team All-Big 12 recognition after Johnson's total of 114 tackles ranked second in the Big 12 and 26th nationally. The Knights won six games in their first season in the Big 12 and played in the Gasparilla Bowl behind a defense that ranked in the top five in the conference in passing yards allowed, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and sacks.
Sims was on staff at South Florida from 2020-22, beginning as an analyst before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2021 and serving as the Bulls' defensive coordinator for the final three games of the 2022 season. At South Florida, Sims coached Antonio Grier to second-team All-AAC recognition. Sims began his collegiate coaching career in 2018 as FAU's strength and conditioning coordinator before spending the 2019 season as director of football operations for the Owls.
At the time of his selection by the Detroit Lions, Sims was the 12th top-10 pick from Florida State. He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2006 after starting all 16 games of his rookie season and recording 124 tackles. His 134 tackles in 2007 ranked fourth in the league. After appearing in 109 games for the Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys over his eight-year NFL career, Sims accumulated 623 total tackles, with 26.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.
A Tallahassee native, Sims attended North Florida Christian and was rated the No. 1 overall recruit nationally in the Class of 2003. In his three seasons at Florida State, Sims helped the Seminoles win 27 games and two ACC championships, including the inaugural ACC Championship Game over No. 5 Virginia Tech. He was named a first-team All-American in 2004 and finished his career with 200 tackles, including 21.0 for loss with 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
Sims returned to school after his NFL career and completed his bachelor's degree in social science from Florida State in 2018. He and his wife, Brooke, have four children, Ernie IV, Major, Savannah and Bella.
Ernie Sims Coaching History
Sims was a defensive analyst for the Seminoles in 2024 and served as assistant linebackers coach in 2025. During the 2025 season, he helped guide a group that featured five linebackers with at least 35 tackles on a defense that ranked second in the ACC in pass defense and in the top five in the conference in total defense and sacks per game.
Sims returned to Tallahassee after spending the 2023 season as UCF's linebackers coach. There, he guided Jason Johnson to first-team All-Big 12 recognition after Johnson's total of 114 tackles ranked second in the Big 12 and 26th nationally. The Knights won six games in their first season in the Big 12 and played in the Gasparilla Bowl behind a defense that ranked in the top five in the conference in passing yards allowed, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and sacks.
Sims was on staff at South Florida from 2020-22, beginning as an analyst before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2021 and serving as the Bulls' defensive coordinator for the final three games of the 2022 season. At South Florida, Sims coached Antonio Grier to second-team All-AAC recognition. Sims began his collegiate coaching career in 2018 as FAU's strength and conditioning coordinator before spending the 2019 season as director of football operations for the Owls.
At the time of his selection by the Detroit Lions, Sims was the 12th top-10 pick from Florida State. He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2006 after starting all 16 games of his rookie season and recording 124 tackles. His 134 tackles in 2007 ranked fourth in the league. After appearing in 109 games for the Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys over his eight-year NFL career, Sims accumulated 623 total tackles, with 26.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.
A Tallahassee native, Sims attended North Florida Christian and was rated the No. 1 overall recruit nationally in the Class of 2003. In his three seasons at Florida State, Sims helped the Seminoles win 27 games and two ACC championships, including the inaugural ACC Championship Game over No. 5 Virginia Tech. He was named a first-team All-American in 2004 and finished his career with 200 tackles, including 21.0 for loss with 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.
Sims returned to school after his NFL career and completed his bachelor's degree in social science from Florida State in 2018. He and his wife, Brooke, have four children, Ernie IV, Major, Savannah and Bella.
Ernie Sims Coaching History
| Years | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2026- | Florida State | Linebackers Coach |
| 2025 | Florida State | Assistant Linebackers Coach |
| 2024 | Florida State | Analyst (Defense) |
| 2023 | UCF | Linebackers Coach |
| 2021-22 | South Florida | Linebackers Coach |
| 2020 | South Florida | Analyst (Defense) |
| 2019 | FAU | Director of Operations |
| 2018 | FAU | Strength and Conditioning Coordinator |
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