Ryan Simerson is in his sixth season on the University of Illinois staff and his third as an assistant secondary coach in 2026. He started with the Fighting Illini as a football analyst in 2021 before moving into a defensive quality control role in 2022 and 2023.
During his two seasons as an assistant secondary coach (2024-25), Simerson and the Illinois defenses have helped the Illini win 19 games, the program's most ever in a two-year span. The winningest two-year run in program history includes 15 Power-4 wins (the fourth-most in the Big Ten), six ranked wins, and two bowl victories over SEC opponents in the 2024 Citrus Bowl vs. #14 South Carolina and 2025 Music City Bowl vs. #23 Tennessee.
Simerson helped the Illinois defense have its best game of the 2025 season in the Illini's Music City Bowl victory over Tennessee, holding the Volunteers' offense, which ranked fourth in the nation in yards per game, to a season-low 278 total yards. Illinois held Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar to a career-low 121 passing yards, 53 fewer than any other game in his career, and snapped his streak of 36 straight games throwing for more than 200 yards.
In his first season as assistant secondary coach, Simerson developed a defensive backfield that was a key factor in the growth of the Fighting Illini's defense in 2024. The defensive unit helped the Illini to a 10-3 record, tying the program's single-season wins record, and a final ranking of #16 in the AP Top 25. The season was capped by a 21-17 victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, as the secondary helped hold the Gamecocks to 14 points under their season scoring average and South Carolina's second-lowest scoring output of the season. The Illini ranked fourth in the league with 12 picks during the regular season, and according to PFF, Illinois’ defense posted a coverage grade of 87.8 on the season, ranking 23rd nationally.
Simerson helped Illinois to an 8-5 record in 2022. The Illini were ranked in the AP Top 25 for five straight weeks, reaching as high as No. 14, and were ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in school history. Illinois led the nation in scoring defense (12.8) for the first time in program, led the nation and set a school record in interceptions (24), and ranked third in total defense (273.5). The Illini also ranked in the top 10 in the nation in total defense (3rd, 273.5), rushing defense (10th, 99.8), fewest first downs allowed (7th, 199), and third down defense (9th, 30.1%).
Simerson helped Illinois to a pair of road ranked wins in 2021. The Illini won at #7 Penn State in nine overtimes, the longest game in college football history, and won at #20 Minnesota, the program’s first ever win over a College Football Playoff ranked opponent.
Previously, Simerson worked as a student assistant at his alma mater, Carroll University, for two seasons. He was on the Carroll football team before joining the staff.
Simerson graduated from Carroll with a bachelor’s degree in sports and recreation management, while also minoring in coaching.
