CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Eddie Simpkins was named the Illinois football program's Director of Offensive Player Personnel, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Simpkins comes to Champaign from Oklahoma State, where he spent the previous four seasons as the Cowboys' Senior Administrative Support Specialist for Football Recruiting.
"We are excited to bring Eddie into our building," said Bielema. "We continued to hear great things about him during his time at both Oklahoma State and the Denver Broncos. We look forward to Eddie bringing a new perspective and thoughts into our program."
"Thank you to Coach Bielema and Patrick Embleton for welcoming my family and I into the Illini famILLy," said Simpkins. "It is a privilege to work for an organization that has established a culture of excellence on and off the field. I am excited to get to work and win ball games."
Simpkins worked directly with the football operations and recruiting offices, helping Oklahoma State to 32 wins, two 10-win seasons, and bowl victories in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl and 2023 Texas Bowl during his four-year stint from 2021-24.
Simpkins joined Oklahoma State from the Denver Broncos, where he started as a scouting intern in 2018 before being promoted to a scouting assistant role from 2019-21.
Simpkins graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2018 with a degree in economics and a minor in sports management. He worked as a football recruiting assistant for four seasons during his undergraduate years in Stillwater.
Simpkins and his wife, Hannah, have one son, Bennett.
"We are excited to bring Eddie into our building," said Bielema. "We continued to hear great things about him during his time at both Oklahoma State and the Denver Broncos. We look forward to Eddie bringing a new perspective and thoughts into our program."
"Thank you to Coach Bielema and Patrick Embleton for welcoming my family and I into the Illini famILLy," said Simpkins. "It is a privilege to work for an organization that has established a culture of excellence on and off the field. I am excited to get to work and win ball games."
Simpkins worked directly with the football operations and recruiting offices, helping Oklahoma State to 32 wins, two 10-win seasons, and bowl victories in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl and 2023 Texas Bowl during his four-year stint from 2021-24.
Simpkins joined Oklahoma State from the Denver Broncos, where he started as a scouting intern in 2018 before being promoted to a scouting assistant role from 2019-21.
Simpkins graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2018 with a degree in economics and a minor in sports management. He worked as a football recruiting assistant for four seasons during his undergraduate years in Stillwater.
Simpkins and his wife, Hannah, have one son, Bennett.
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