Jason Simpson, offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for the past three years, was named head football coach at the UTM on Dec. 21, 2005.

The announcement was made by Phil Dane, UTM director of intercollegiate athletics, at a news conference in the Bob Carroll Football Building.

Simpson was instrumental in the resurgence of the UTC football program. After several losing seasons, UTC posted a 6-5 record this season in the Southern Conference, including a win over OVC member, Jacksonville State University.

Simpson also coached for three years in the Southland Conference at Texas State University in San Marcos.

“Our university has experienced many positives this year, including a winning (6-5) football season,” said Dr. Nick Dunagan, UTM chancellor. “I strongly believe that Jason will not only continue but also build on this momentum. He is an outstanding young man who will make us proud to be Skyhawks. Thanks to Phil Dane for his quick action on this important position.”

Dane said that Simpson quickly surfaced as a top choice for the position, which became open after Matt Griffin resigned to accept the head football coach’s job at Murray State University.

“Jason brings great experience to [UTM] and comes to us with the highest recommendation from some outstanding people in this profession, including Todd Berry, who many of our fans know and respect,” said Dane.

Berry, the current offensive coordinator at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and former Army head coach, is a former offensive coordinator at UTM.

“In addition to several years of experience at the I-AA level,” Dane said, “he (Simpson) is already familiar with our recruiting region because of his years at UTC, where he had specific recruiting responsibility for Tenn. and Miss. Finally, Jason’s personal values and philosophies toward student-athletes are very consistent with values in our athletics mission statement.”

Simpson said that he and his family are “really looking forward to joining the community here in Martin.” He described factors already in place at the university for future football success.

“First of all, I want to compliment the previous staff and the players on having the winning record,” Simpson said. “There’s been a foundation that’s been put in place here, and fortunately I’ve been given the opportunity to take that foundation and move forward.” Simpson and his wife, Julie, have a son and a daughter: Ty, 3 years, and Emma, 9 months.