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Chris Simpson enters his second year on the Laker coaching staff and will be coaching the linebackers. Simpson, who tutored two All-GLIAC honorees in 2010 in Justin Victor and Luther Ware, joined GVSU after spending two years on the Nebraska-Omaha staff as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator.
Simpson's linebacking unit helped the Laker defense rank nationally in several categories, including the top 20 in tackles for loss and QB sacks. Simpson returns five linebackers that played significant roles in the 2010 defense.
The Mavericks were 14-9 with one appearance in the NCAA DII playoffs during his time on the staff. Simpson spent five years at DIII power Wisconsin-Whitewater where he was an assistant coach in charge of the linebackers. UWW was 42-3 his final three seasons with three straight NCAA DIII National Championship game appearances and three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crowns. The Warhawks claimed the 2007 National Championship and turned in an overall mark of 56-9 during his five years on the staff.
In addition, 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 the past four years, 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 and in 2009 with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.
"I am extremely pleased to become a member of the Grand Valley State football staff and join a program that is as highly regarded as that of Laker football," said Simpson.
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. Simpson and his wife, Nicole, reside in Hudsonville with three kids: Jarryn (11), Riley (8), Noah (4).
