TicketsDe’Rail Sims was hired to coach the running backs at the University of Cincinnati after spending the previous two seasons at Louisville as the running backs coach.
In 2022, Sims coached a running back group that accounted for 2,326 yards and 23 touchdowns with Jawhar Jordan taking over as the top running back, rushing for 700 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
In his first season with the Cards, Sims tutored a running back group that accounted for 1,622 yards and nine scores, with Jalen Mitchell leading the unit with 722 yards and five touchdowns. The Cardinals finished 18th nationally in rushing averaging 212.9 yards per game and accounted for 29 touchdowns, which ranked 25th nationally.
Before joining the UofL staff, Sims served as a running backs coach at East Carolina where he mentored AAC Rookie of the Year Rahjai Harris.
In 2019, Sims was selected to participate in the American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in 2019. He coached Harris to earn first team all-league honors after rushing for 628 yards and four touchdowns during an eight-game season and helped guide the running backs to its highest rushing total since 2014.
Before joining the ECU staff, Sims coached three seasons at James Madison where his teams combined for a 28-2 record and were 2017 FCS Runners-Up to pair with the 2016 national title.
In leading the Dukes to unprecedented success, Sims oversaw a rushing attack that ranked fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns (108), 6th in rushing yards (9,422) and 13th in rushing yards per game (219.1) over his three-year term.
In 2018, Sims was instrumental in helping JMU’s offense net 2,383 rushing yards (183.3 ypg), which stood fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association and 45th nationally and was 25th nationally with 194.3 rushing yards per game in 201, turning in a pair of 400-plus-yard outings (472 vs. Norfolk State, 410 vs. ECU) and accounted for at least three ground scores in five contests.
The 2016 season the Dukes rush for a CAA-record 4,125 rushing yards and held FCS ranks of second in scoring (46.7 ppg), fourth in third-down conversions (50.0 percent), fifth in rushing average (275.0 ypg) and sixth in fewest fumbles lost (4). His unit turned in 18 individual 100-yard rushing performances, including 11 by All-America selection and Sports Network FCS National Player-of-the-Year Khalid Abdullah, who finished the season with 1,809 yards and 22 TDs – both school single-season records.
Sims spent three seasons at Western Carolina (2013-15) as the Catamounts’ running back coach and director of player development where he directed a pair of WCU running backs to All-Southern Conference honors – Detrez Newsome and Darius Ramsey.
He earned an invitation to participate in the NCAA & NFL Coaches Academy in 2014, which is conducted by the NCAA Leadership Development staff and NFL Player Engagement and was also selected to the AFCA’s prestigious 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
Prior to his time at Western Carolina, Sims was the running backs coach and video coordinator at Carson-Newman in 2012, guiding the Eagles to a 9-3 record and the NCAA II playoffs before finishing the campaign with a nation-leading 380.0 rushing average and 52 ground scores.
Sims began his full-time collegiate coaching career at Millersville (2010) before returning to alma mater Pikeville a year later.
The Union, S.C. native was a two-year starter at Pikeville, where he played from 2006-08 before joining the coaching staff as a student assistant (working with the linebackers). He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Pikeville in 2010.
Sims and his wife, Lauren, have two daughters, Amayah and Alivia.
In 2022, Sims coached a running back group that accounted for 2,326 yards and 23 touchdowns with Jawhar Jordan taking over as the top running back, rushing for 700 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
In his first season with the Cards, Sims tutored a running back group that accounted for 1,622 yards and nine scores, with Jalen Mitchell leading the unit with 722 yards and five touchdowns. The Cardinals finished 18th nationally in rushing averaging 212.9 yards per game and accounted for 29 touchdowns, which ranked 25th nationally.
Before joining the UofL staff, Sims served as a running backs coach at East Carolina where he mentored AAC Rookie of the Year Rahjai Harris.
In 2019, Sims was selected to participate in the American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute in 2019. He coached Harris to earn first team all-league honors after rushing for 628 yards and four touchdowns during an eight-game season and helped guide the running backs to its highest rushing total since 2014.
Before joining the ECU staff, Sims coached three seasons at James Madison where his teams combined for a 28-2 record and were 2017 FCS Runners-Up to pair with the 2016 national title.
In leading the Dukes to unprecedented success, Sims oversaw a rushing attack that ranked fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns (108), 6th in rushing yards (9,422) and 13th in rushing yards per game (219.1) over his three-year term.
In 2018, Sims was instrumental in helping JMU’s offense net 2,383 rushing yards (183.3 ypg), which stood fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association and 45th nationally and was 25th nationally with 194.3 rushing yards per game in 201, turning in a pair of 400-plus-yard outings (472 vs. Norfolk State, 410 vs. ECU) and accounted for at least three ground scores in five contests.
The 2016 season the Dukes rush for a CAA-record 4,125 rushing yards and held FCS ranks of second in scoring (46.7 ppg), fourth in third-down conversions (50.0 percent), fifth in rushing average (275.0 ypg) and sixth in fewest fumbles lost (4). His unit turned in 18 individual 100-yard rushing performances, including 11 by All-America selection and Sports Network FCS National Player-of-the-Year Khalid Abdullah, who finished the season with 1,809 yards and 22 TDs – both school single-season records.
Sims spent three seasons at Western Carolina (2013-15) as the Catamounts’ running back coach and director of player development where he directed a pair of WCU running backs to All-Southern Conference honors – Detrez Newsome and Darius Ramsey.
He earned an invitation to participate in the NCAA & NFL Coaches Academy in 2014, which is conducted by the NCAA Leadership Development staff and NFL Player Engagement and was also selected to the AFCA’s prestigious 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
Prior to his time at Western Carolina, Sims was the running backs coach and video coordinator at Carson-Newman in 2012, guiding the Eagles to a 9-3 record and the NCAA II playoffs before finishing the campaign with a nation-leading 380.0 rushing average and 52 ground scores.
Sims began his full-time collegiate coaching career at Millersville (2010) before returning to alma mater Pikeville a year later.
The Union, S.C. native was a two-year starter at Pikeville, where he played from 2006-08 before joining the coaching staff as a student assistant (working with the linebackers). He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Pikeville in 2010.
Sims and his wife, Lauren, have two daughters, Amayah and Alivia.