Jay Simpson begins his third season at Arkansas State in 2024 as the Red Wolves’ defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
Year two with the Red Wolves saw the team return to a bowl game for the first time since 2019 and A-State landed the top-ranked recruiting class in the league for the third consecutive season. Cornerback Samy Johnson ranked fifth on the team with 57 tackles and earned Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference honors following the season.
In his first season with A-State, Trevian Thomas and Eddie Smith were among the leading tacklers on the team out of the safety positions. Smith led the team with two interceptions to go with his 58 tackles while Thomas ranked fourth on the team with 76 tackles. The Red Wolves allowed seven fewer points per game, 100 total fewer yards per game to improve 40 spots in the national rankings, their third down percentage defense improved from 41.4 percent to 36.4 percent to rank top-50 nationally.
Simpson came to A-State after spending the last six seasons in multiple roles on the UAB football staff, including the last three as the Blazers cornerbacks coach. He helped UAB win three straight C-USA West Division titles in 2018, 2019, and 2020, along with winning the 2018 and 2020 Conference USA Championships. The championships were led in part by defenses that finished top 10 nationally in total defense for three straight years (2018-2020).
Most recently, Simpson helped guide UAB to a 9-4 overall record and 6-2 mark in C-USA play in 2021 as the defense excelled once again, ranking 16th in the country in total defense. Under Simpson’s guidance, Starling Thomas was named All-Conference USA after leading the team in pass break ups (8) and total passes defended (10) while Dacarrion McWilliams was a Freshman All-Conference selection.
In 2020, UAB finished seventh nationally in passing yards allowed per game, allowing just 173.2. The Blazers also ranked seventh in total defense, allowing opponents to gain 311.1 yards per game. UAB continued to excel in third down defense. The Green and Gold ranked seventh in the country after boasting a 3rd down conversion defense of .298.
Simpson’s group was led by Second Team All-Conference USA members Brontae Harris and TD Marshall.
In 2019, UAB finished eighth nationally in total defense and Simpson’s unit ranked eighth nationally in passing yards allowed (183.6).
Leading the charge was Honorable Mention All-Conference USA performer Marshall. After moving from wide receiver to cornerback midway through fall camp, Marshall became a full-time starter midway through the season and quickly established himself a shutdown corner.
Marshall finished the year 28 tackles and seven pass breakups. His most impactful play was a 76-yard pick-six which was the game-winning touchdown in UAB’s 26-21 victory over North Texas in the season finale to secure the C-USA West Division title.
UAB finished the year with 56 total pass breakups and seven interceptions, leading the league in pass defense efficiency (117.0).
Simpson joined UAB in 2016 and spent two seasons (2016, 2017) as a graduate assistant working with defensive backs. He transitioned into his role as defensive analyst for UAB’s record-setting 2018 season in which the Blazers finished ninth nationally in total defense.
Working alongside defensive backs coach Blake Shrader, Simpson helped the Blazers become one of the most dominant defenses in the country as their unit finished the season ranked 14th nationally in passing yards allowed and 21st in passing efficiency defense.
Prior to UAB, Simpson began his coaching career at South Alabama and spent the 2014-15 seasons with the Jags where he was quality control and worked with linebackers in 2014, and defensive backs in 2015.
Simpson played his college football at South Alabama from 2009-11 and was a two-year starter at corner. He graduated from South Alabama in 2011 with a business degree.
Simpson and his wife, Kelsey, have three daughters, Khodi, Kamden and Kassidy.
