Phil Simpson

Biography

Phil Simpson is in his second season on the Nebraska defensive staff in 2026. Simpson is in his second stint on Matt Rhule's Husker staff after serving as a defensive quality control coach in 2023. In between his time at Nebraska, Simpson worked as a senior defensive analyst at Florida State in 2024. Simpson is in his third straight season coaching at a Power Four school following a nine-year high school coaching career in Florida. As a college coach, Simpson has gained experience in the Big Ten and the ACC. In his first season at Nebraska in 2023, Simpson worked with a Husker defense that ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense. The Huskers ranked in the top 30 nationally in total defense in 2025. At the high school level, Simpson spent four years as the head coach at Homestead High School following five years as a high school assistant. Simpson led Homestead to a 23-4 record in his final two seasons with a trip to the state championship game in 2022. NEBRASKA (2023; 2025) Simpson coached Nebraska's outside linebackers in 2025. The play of his position group helped Nebraska rank third nationally in pass defense and 30th in total defense. The group also helped the Huskers post their first shutout in 16 years. In his first season at Nebraska in 2023, Simpson served as a defensive quality control coach. He worked with a Husker defense that ranked in the top 15 nationally in rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense. Nebrask