University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Offensive Line Offers Leadership
8/3/2017 9:00:00 AM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – First-year offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator MikeSimmonds has a love for teaching and coaching that he wants to pass along to this year's group of UNI Panthers.
"I want to give back to the game," Simmonds said. "I want to help young men overachieve and reach their goals."
Simmonds credits his love of coaching football to the men who coached him from high school all the way to the National Football League. Simmonds played for high school coach Bruce Arnold, college coach Pete Hoener and professional coaches Alex Gibbs and Larry Bechtel.
But the most important piece of the coaching puzzle for Simmonds came in graduate school where he learned to put it altogether.
"I had finished playing and went back to get my degree at South Florida," Simmonds said. "Dr. Barbara Cruz taught me how to teach and really that's what it's all about because teaching and coaching go hand in hand. Everybody learns differently. You have to use different ways of teaching because there are so many ways that people understand – you have to adjust and get your point across."
Simmonds said he has been fond of the Missouri Valley Football Conference since his playing days in the league when it was known as the Gateway Football Conference.
"I have such a high level of respect for the MVFC, UNI and Coach (Mark) Farley," Simmonds said. "We ran into each other a few times on the field when I was on the line for Indiana State and he was patrolling the linebacker spot for UNI in the Dome. I have a pretty good understanding of the UNI-Dome and how tough it is to win here for opposing teams. I love recruiting players in the state of Iowa and for the UNI program. It's a tough program and we have tough players."
Simmonds is surrounded by tough players on the Panther offensive line and said he expects a lot out of this year's crew.
"We put a lot of responsibility on the offensive line," Simmonds said. "Not only do they have to lead the offense, but they set the tone for the entire football squad. We are responsible for making the team tough."
One thing he picked up on quickly at UNI was that you lean on your seniors.
"You have to lean on your seniors and they deserve respect," Simmonds said. "You need to have at least one of your captains come out of the offensive line group – that's important to set the tone for the team. This year's leaders on our offensive line are Lee Carhart and Bryce Sweeney."
Carhart will look to start at center for the Panthers as he enters his senior season. Carhart played in eight games and made three starts in 2016. Carhart is battling with Jacob Appleman, Nick Ellis, Colton Lueck and Mason Neisen for the starting job.
Sweeney, who missed all of last year with an injury, is making his way back into the lineup at right tackle. Sweeney is sharing reps with Spencer Brown, Justin Putney and Lueck in this fall camp.
Junior Cal Twait returns at left tackle for the Panthers after starting all 11 games last season. Brown is also seeing some time at left tackle in fall camp.
Sophomore Jackson Scott-Brown made seven starts last year at left guard. Scott-Brown will battle Niesen and Lueck throughout camp at left guard.
Junior Ezra Szczyrbak and Putney have been battling at right guard in camp.
"We have seven to nine guys in the mix for starting jobs," Simmonds said. "Overall, we have good numbers and have been getting good reps. We have three full groups and that is great for getting reps."
Simmonds said he knows from experience that there is plenty of talent on this year's squad.
"We have BCS players playing at the FCS level," Simmonds said. "This UNI program is really a BCS program. We have BCS coaches and I'm super impressed with our team. I like to be around successful people."Â
"I want to give back to the game," Simmonds said. "I want to help young men overachieve and reach their goals."
Simmonds credits his love of coaching football to the men who coached him from high school all the way to the National Football League. Simmonds played for high school coach Bruce Arnold, college coach Pete Hoener and professional coaches Alex Gibbs and Larry Bechtel.
But the most important piece of the coaching puzzle for Simmonds came in graduate school where he learned to put it altogether.
"I had finished playing and went back to get my degree at South Florida," Simmonds said. "Dr. Barbara Cruz taught me how to teach and really that's what it's all about because teaching and coaching go hand in hand. Everybody learns differently. You have to use different ways of teaching because there are so many ways that people understand – you have to adjust and get your point across."
Simmonds said he has been fond of the Missouri Valley Football Conference since his playing days in the league when it was known as the Gateway Football Conference.
"I have such a high level of respect for the MVFC, UNI and Coach (Mark) Farley," Simmonds said. "We ran into each other a few times on the field when I was on the line for Indiana State and he was patrolling the linebacker spot for UNI in the Dome. I have a pretty good understanding of the UNI-Dome and how tough it is to win here for opposing teams. I love recruiting players in the state of Iowa and for the UNI program. It's a tough program and we have tough players."
Simmonds is surrounded by tough players on the Panther offensive line and said he expects a lot out of this year's crew.
"We put a lot of responsibility on the offensive line," Simmonds said. "Not only do they have to lead the offense, but they set the tone for the entire football squad. We are responsible for making the team tough."
One thing he picked up on quickly at UNI was that you lean on your seniors.
"You have to lean on your seniors and they deserve respect," Simmonds said. "You need to have at least one of your captains come out of the offensive line group – that's important to set the tone for the team. This year's leaders on our offensive line are Lee Carhart and Bryce Sweeney."
Carhart will look to start at center for the Panthers as he enters his senior season. Carhart played in eight games and made three starts in 2016. Carhart is battling with Jacob Appleman, Nick Ellis, Colton Lueck and Mason Neisen for the starting job.
Sweeney, who missed all of last year with an injury, is making his way back into the lineup at right tackle. Sweeney is sharing reps with Spencer Brown, Justin Putney and Lueck in this fall camp.
Junior Cal Twait returns at left tackle for the Panthers after starting all 11 games last season. Brown is also seeing some time at left tackle in fall camp.
Sophomore Jackson Scott-Brown made seven starts last year at left guard. Scott-Brown will battle Niesen and Lueck throughout camp at left guard.
Junior Ezra Szczyrbak and Putney have been battling at right guard in camp.
"We have seven to nine guys in the mix for starting jobs," Simmonds said. "Overall, we have good numbers and have been getting good reps. We have three full groups and that is great for getting reps."
Simmonds said he knows from experience that there is plenty of talent on this year's squad.
"We have BCS players playing at the FCS level," Simmonds said. "This UNI program is really a BCS program. We have BCS coaches and I'm super impressed with our team. I like to be around successful people."Â
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