Buffalo Bulls add EMU's Chris Simpson as Linebackers Coach

Coach Lance Leipold has filled another vacancy on his staff today. UB's 25th head coach will reconnect with his former colleague Chris Simpson to fill the role of linebackers coach. UB got a chance to see his handiwork this season when the Bulls took on his current employer, Eastern Michigan.

Coach Simpson came up from Wisconsin-Whitewater where he was a linebackers coach and special teams coordinator from 2003-07. UWW had three straight 14-1 seasons and played in the national championship game in his final three seasons. The Warhawks won the national title in 2007.

From Whitewater, Simpson spent two seasons as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Nebraska-Omaha before spending 2010-13 at Grand Valley State as linebackers coach. He helped the Lakers finish 2013 ranked 3rd in the nation. 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.

In addition to his trip from Wisconsin Whitewater to Eastern Michigan, 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.