ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University head football coach Jason Burianek added more NFL flavor to the coaching staff after it was officially announced Tuesday that Clyde Simmons would be taking over as defensive line coach in 2019. Simmons played 15 years on the NFL gridiron and spent eight seasons coaching in the league before coming to Missouri Baptist.
 
"I have to pinch myself sometimes as I am beyond blessed to work with all of the great coaches on my staff and now to add Clyde [Simmons], it is really exciting," Burianek said. "MBU football is extremely excited to add a man of God and a true leader of men to our staff. We are blessed and can't wait to get to work."

Most recently, Simmons served as defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns, helping groom Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Simmons was also instrumental in an unbelievable turnaround for the Browns' rushing defense that ranked 31st in 2016 and finished seventh in the league just a year later. Under Simmons' tutelage, Cleveland limited opponents to 3.35 yards per rush and recorded its best finish in rush defense since 1992.
 
The Wilmington, N.C. native is no stranger to St. Louis. Prior to the Browns, Simmons was assistant defensive line coach for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams where he coached alongside current MBU defensive coordinator Joe Bowden. With the Rams, Simmons helped develop top-end talent like 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler Aaron Donald as well as pass rush specialist Robert Quinn, who set a single-season Rams record with 19 sacks in 2013.
 
Simmons parlayed a long and fruitful playing career in the league into his first coaching opportunity in 2010. Working primarily with the defensive line, Simmons served as a coaching intern for the New York Jets.
 
Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the ninth round of the 1986 NFL Draft, the byproduct of Western Carolina University made a name for himself on the field before entering the coaching ranks. Simmons, who ranks in the NFL's top-20 all-time in career sacks (121.5), was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro First Team honoree. He is also tied for fourth in NFL history among defensive linemen for games played (236). Over the course of his 15-year career, Simmons played for the Eagles, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals.
 
Simmons was recently inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame in 2018 and is also a member of the Western Carolina University Sports Hall of Fame (2002) and Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame (2008).
 
This hiring is expected to give even more of a spark to a Spartan defensive line that averaged 1.5 sacks and 5.4 TFLs per game in 2018.
 
 
* Some bio information collected from Cleveland Browns 2018 Media Guide