Ernie Sims excited to join UCF staff as LB coach

Sims spent 2018-19 at Florida Atlantic and then moved to South Florida from 2020-22. Last December, Gus Malzahn tabbed the former Florida State star to coach UCF's linebackers.

"It was good," Sims said. "Speaking with Coach Malzahn, I had heard so many good things about him. Then after speaking with newly hired defensive coordinator, Addison Williams, it all just made sense. My biggest thing that I was looking for was obviously to stay in the state of Florida. I had been at FAU and obviously at South Florida.

"So the opportunity to stay in the State of Florida with my family, a lot of my family is here, that was incredible for me... It's been a blessing. I'm really excited. I'm really excited about the season ahead and just working with the staff that we have here."

A native of Tallahassee, Sims was the nation's No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2003. He had a standout career at Florida State and was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

"I actually played with some former (UCF) players," Sims said. "Kevin Smith, I played with him in Detroit for several years. Daunte Culpepper, I played with him in Detroit as well. Asante Samuel, I played with him in Philadelphia."

Sims learned quite a bit more while he was on staff at South Florida.

"The rivalry, I learned the true value of how intense it is," Sims said. You grow up in Florida and playing for Florida State, you always knew about Florida State-Florida, Florida State-Miami. But just being a part of that (War on I-4) rivalry the last couple years, it was quite the experience."