MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The rebooted Trinity football program wanted to build a foundation in 2019, its first varsity season in over a decade. Following a 2-8 campaign and the resignation of head coach Marcus Law, the Warriors didn’t want to start over, so they decided to lean on a familiar face to build a consistent program.
On Tuesday, the school hired Chris Simpson, the offensive, passing game and special teams coordinator under Law last season. Simpson worked with an inexperienced group, but helped them grow as the season wore on. His ability to connect with a team full of underclassmen is one attribute that makes him right for the job, according to a couple of his key returners for the 2020 season.
“I think it will help our players because we already have a relationship with Coach Simpson and we won’t have to learn any new plays or concepts,” said Drew Boczek, a rising sophomore who started at quarterback last season. “Having him back let’s us build on past principles he has instilled in us.
“I loved working with him. I felt like him and I had a good connection last year. He really helped me to understand the offense and read defenses.”
Boczek and Simpson worked closely together — Boczek threw for 539 yards and three touchdowns before a broken foot prematurely ended his season.
Another rising sophomore, running back Levi Teets, echoed Boczek, believing Simpson’s personality is a perfect balance for a young team.
“He is one of those coaches you can joke around with, but you give him your full respect,” Teets said. “He has a great balance of being serious and a fun guy. You can tell that he cares and wants the best for his players. He jokes around with us. He doesn’t care about us as just football players, but as individuals, as well. During basketball season, he came to watch a few of our games. That’s not something he has to do, but he chooses to because he cares about us.”
Teets rushed for 287 yards and two touchdowns last season, and also hauled in 13 passes for 138 yards and a score. He will be a critical aspect to Trinity’s success next season, especially with the loss of Davon Eldridge (transferred to Morgantown).
Simpson has experience as a head coach, working with the West Virginia SMASH, a semi-pro team based out of Morgantown. Scott Stone, who was a four-year starting quarterback at Preston High from 2012-15, played under Simpson n 2018 and part of 2019.
When the SMASH needed a new coach after the previous unexpectedly left, Simpson stepped in and learned to adapt to what the players were comfortable with, rather than coming in and changing to how he wanted to run the team.
“Coach Chris is like the definition of a player’s coach,” Stone said. “He loves his players, takes their advice and tries to adapt to the players rather than making the players adapt to him. But off the field, he is a great guy. He truly cares about his players. Don’t get me wrong, he has his tough love side. You mess up or do the wrong thing, he’s gonna let you know about it.
“But when practice or the game is over, he’s gonna come to you, talk to you and treat you as if it never happened. He is one of the best coaches I’ve gotten to be around and play for. I was happy to play for him — that’s the type of guy I’d go out and run through brick wall for, because at the end of the day, I know he is going to do the same thing for me. That’s just the type of guy he is. Trinity got lucky with this one, they are in great hands with him at the throne.”
