Vols Name De’Rail Sims New Running Backs Coach

(utsports.com) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – De’Rail Sims, who guided top 25 rushing units in each of the last three seasons at Louisville and then Cincinnati, has been named Tennessee’s new running backs coach, head coach Josh Heupel announced on Tuesday.

“We are excited to welcome De’Rail, his wife Lauren and his daughters Amayah and Alivia into the Tennessee football family,” Heupel said. “De’Rail is an exceptionally bright coach with a track record of developing outstanding running back rooms and building relationships with his players. Our run game has been vital to who we are as a program, and I expect him to make a seamless transition in helping us continue that success. De’Rail also has the experience and knowledge of our recruiting footprint surrounding Tennessee. We look forward to him making an impact in our recruiting efforts.”

Sims has coached running backs for over a decade with successful tenures at Cincinnati (2023), Louisville (2021-22), East Carolina (2019-20), James Madison (2016-18) and Western Carolina (2013-15).

“My family and I fired up to represent the University of Tennessee, and we appreciate Coach Heupel for this tremendous opportunity,” Sims said. “Having watched this program over the years from afar, it is one rich with history and tradition. I am excited to get to know our current players and hit the ground running in recruiting.”

Sims’ one season at Cincinnati saw the Bearcats rank fifth nationally in rushing, averaging 217.1 yards per game. Cincinnati rushed for more than 200 yards in nine games in an attack spearheaded by junior running back Corey Kiner. Under Sims’ tutelage, Kiner became the 20th 1,000-yard rusher in UC history, finishing 2023 with 1,047 yards on 192 carries and five touchdowns.

UC’s top three running backs – Kiner, senior Ryan Montgomery and sophomore Myles Montgomery combined to rush for 1,804 yards on 312 carries for a stellar 5.8 yards per rush average. Kiner rushed for 100 yards six times, while Ryan Montgomery reached the century mark twice and Myles Montgomery once.

Prior to the 2023 season, Sims was selected to participate in the NFL’s Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship where he worked with Los Angeles Chargers over the summer.

Prior to Cincinnati, Sims was instrumental for a Louisville offense that finished in the top 25 nationally in each of his two seasons. In 2022, the Cardinals rushed for 200.6 yards per game, good for second in the ACC and 23rd nationally. In 2021, Louisville finished 18th in the FBS with 212.9 rush yards per game, while scoring 29 touchdowns on the ground. It averaged an ACC-best 5.45 yards per game.

Sims previously served as a running backs coach at East Carolina for the 2019 and 2020 seasons where he mentored AAC Rookie of the Year Rahjai Harris, who gained 628 yards and scored four touchdowns over eight games, collecting all-league honors along the way. During his first year at ECU, he led his corps to their highest single-season rushing yardage total (1,696) since 2014.

Sims coached three seasons at James Madison where his teams combined for a 28-2 record, winning the FCS National Championship in 2016 and finishing runner-up in 2017. In leading the Dukes to unprecedented success, Sims oversaw a rushing attack that ranked fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns (108), sixth in rushing yards (9,422) and 13th in rushing yards per game (219.1) over his three-year term.

During the 2016 season, the Dukes rushed 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 backs coach and director of player development where he directed a pair of WCU running backs to All-Southern Conference honors in 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 Division 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 his alma mater Pikeville a year later.

The Union, South Carolina, 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.