Eastern Michigan Athletics
Chris Simpson Named EMU Football Assistant Coach
2/6/2014 10:23:00 AM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Simpson will be the outside linebackers coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Chris Simpson, the linebackers coach for the Grand Valley State University football team for the past four seasons, has been named an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, Feb. 6. He will serve as the team's outside linebackers coach.
"Coach Simpson is going to make us better. He has a history with Coach McCaslin and has coached and recruited in the great state of Michigan for four years," commented Coach Creighton. "He is exactly what we are looking for."
Simpson spent the past four seasons as linebackers coach for the Lakers. During his time in Allendale, Mich., the team posted a 39-11 record and four Division II playoff victories. He also tutored six All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) performers during that span.
Grand Valley closed the 2013 football campaign ranked third in the final American Football Coaches Association poll. The Lakers advanced to the NCAA DII National Semifinals for the eighth time after knocking off undefeated and No. 3 ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Senior linebacker Jordan Kaufman received second-team All-GLIAC honors after leading the squad in tackles with 87, while also recording eight tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and returning a blocked field goal 56 yards for a score. Also earning honorable mention league honors for GVSU were senior linebackers Charles Hill and Luther Ware.
His 2011 linebacking unit was a key component in a Laker defense that ended the year among the GLIAC?leaders. GVSU led the league in tackles for loss (93) and sacks (36), while ranking second in scoring defense (20.2). GVSU limited opponents to 15.5 points per game in its last five games that season.
Simpson's linebacking unit helped the Laker defense rank nationally in several categories, including the top 20 in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks in 2010. Justin Victor and Ware earned All-GLIAC?accolades during the 2010 campaign.
He arrived at GVSU following a two-year stint at the University of Nebraska-Omaha under current EMU defensive coordinator Brad McCaslin. The Mavericks were 14-9 with one appearance in the NCAA DII Playoffs during his time on the staff.
Simpson spent five years at Division III national power Wisconsin-Whitewater where he was an assistant coach in charge of the linebackers. UWW was 42-3 his final three seasons with three straight NCAA DIII National Championship game appearances and three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crowns. The Warhawks claimed the 2007 National Championship and turned in an overall mark of 56-9 during his five years on the staff.
In addition, Simpson coached two years (1999-2000) at Waunakee (Wis.) High School, one year (2001) at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, as a graduate assistant and one year (2002) at Wisconsin-Platteville. In the summer of 2006, Simpson was selected as a participant at the NCAA Men's Football Coaches Academy.
He also has received an NFL Minority Coaching Internship on five occasions, from the Green Bay Packers, for defensive line and special teams in the summer of 2006, in 2007 with the Dallas Cowboys, in 2008 with the Carolina Panthers, in 2009 with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns and in 2012 with the Detroit Lions.
Simpson graduated with a bachelor's degree from Wisconsin-Whitewater in physical education in 1998. He earned his masters in curriculum and instruction in 2004.
Simpson and his wife, Nicole, have three children: Jarryn, Riley and Noah.
The Chris Simpson File
Name: Chris Simpson
High School: Dominican H.S. - Whitefish Bay, Wis.
College: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - Bachelor's degree in physical education - 1998
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater- Master's degree in curriculum and instruction - 2004
Family: Wife-Nicole; Children - Jarryn, Riley, Noah
Coaching Experience
Year School Position
2010-13 Grand Valley State University Assistant Coach/Linebackers
2008-10 University of Nebraska-Omaha Assistant Coach/DL/Special Teams Coordinator
2003-08 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Assistant Coach/Linebackers/Special Teams Coord.
2002 University of Wisconsin-Platteville Assistant Coach/Linebackers
2001 Loras College Graduate Assistant Coach
1999-2000 Waunakee (Wis.) High School Assistant Coach
"Coach Simpson is going to make us better. He has a history with Coach McCaslin and has coached and recruited in the great state of Michigan for four years," commented Coach Creighton. "He is exactly what we are looking for."
Simpson spent the past four seasons as linebackers coach for the Lakers. During his time in Allendale, Mich., the team posted a 39-11 record and four Division II playoff victories. He also tutored six All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) performers during that span.
Grand Valley closed the 2013 football campaign ranked third in the final American Football Coaches Association poll. The Lakers advanced to the NCAA DII National Semifinals for the eighth time after knocking off undefeated and No. 3 ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Senior linebacker Jordan Kaufman received second-team All-GLIAC honors after leading the squad in tackles with 87, while also recording eight tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and returning a blocked field goal 56 yards for a score. Also earning honorable mention league honors for GVSU were senior linebackers Charles Hill and Luther Ware.
His 2011 linebacking unit was a key component in a Laker defense that ended the year among the GLIAC?leaders. GVSU led the league in tackles for loss (93) and sacks (36), while ranking second in scoring defense (20.2). GVSU limited opponents to 15.5 points per game in its last five games that season.
Simpson's linebacking unit helped the Laker defense rank nationally in several categories, including the top 20 in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks in 2010. Justin Victor and Ware earned All-GLIAC?accolades during the 2010 campaign.
He arrived at GVSU following a two-year stint at the University of Nebraska-Omaha under current EMU defensive coordinator Brad McCaslin. The Mavericks were 14-9 with one appearance in the NCAA DII Playoffs during his time on the staff.
Simpson spent five years at Division III national power Wisconsin-Whitewater where he was an assistant coach in charge of the linebackers. UWW was 42-3 his final three seasons with three straight NCAA DIII National Championship game appearances and three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crowns. The Warhawks claimed the 2007 National Championship and turned in an overall mark of 56-9 during his five years on the staff.
In addition, Simpson coached two years (1999-2000) at Waunakee (Wis.) High School, one year (2001) at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, as a graduate assistant and one year (2002) at Wisconsin-Platteville. In the summer of 2006, Simpson was selected as a participant at the NCAA Men's Football Coaches Academy.
He also has received an NFL Minority Coaching Internship on five occasions, from the Green Bay Packers, for defensive line and special teams in the summer of 2006, in 2007 with the Dallas Cowboys, in 2008 with the Carolina Panthers, in 2009 with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns and in 2012 with the Detroit Lions.
Simpson graduated with a bachelor's degree from Wisconsin-Whitewater in physical education in 1998. He earned his masters in curriculum and instruction in 2004.
Simpson and his wife, Nicole, have three children: Jarryn, Riley and Noah.
The Chris Simpson File
Name: Chris Simpson
High School: Dominican H.S. - Whitefish Bay, Wis.
College: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - Bachelor's degree in physical education - 1998
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater- Master's degree in curriculum and instruction - 2004
Family: Wife-Nicole; Children - Jarryn, Riley, Noah
Coaching Experience
Year School Position
2010-13 Grand Valley State University Assistant Coach/Linebackers
2008-10 University of Nebraska-Omaha Assistant Coach/DL/Special Teams Coordinator
2003-08 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Assistant Coach/Linebackers/Special Teams Coord.
2002 University of Wisconsin-Platteville Assistant Coach/Linebackers
2001 Loras College Graduate Assistant Coach
1999-2000 Waunakee (Wis.) High School Assistant Coach
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 9 vs. Ohio
Monday, October 20
2025 Football Week 8 Hype vs. Miami
Friday, October 17
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 8 at Miami
Monday, October 13
Northern Illinois: Cinematic Recap
Sunday, October 12