Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 was the beginning of a new era for Florida A&M football in a quest to turn the tide and return to its former glory.

That day marked FAMU's hire of Willie Simmons, a nearby Quincy native, who was head coaching Prairie View A&M of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and just led the Panthers to their third consecutive winning season.

Five years later, Simmons has remained victorious and successfully restored the winning culture of Rattler football with a 33-12 since taking over.

"Time has literally flown by," he said. "I still remember that day of being introduced here and having my entire family in (Al) Lawson (Center) to welcome me in.

"It's been a fast five, but a fun five."

Simmons, 42, still fondly remembers getting the call from then interim director of athletics John Eason to formally offer the job.

Simmons would eventually accept the offer to accomplish a dream-fulfilled.

"It was a phone call that I'll never forget," he said. "FAMU has always been a dream job of mine being that I grew up here and my entire family went to school here.

"My wife (Shaia) and I discussed it and we felt that the good Lord had lined things up for me to come home. We just felt the timing was perfect. So, it didn't take a lot of twisting of the arm."

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FAMUly ties

Being from Quincy, Simmons has always been familiar with the Rattlers.

A great number of relatives and friends attended and obtained degrees from the university.

Simmons, instead, would enroll to become a student-athlete at Clemson following an All-American and district championship winning career as a high school quarterback at James A. Shanks.

"FAMU has always held a special place in my heart," he said. "Almost everybody that's in my life and is college graduate, graduated from here.

"To be able to come back to (FAMU) and see how excited they are from us doing relatively well on the field makes it a little bit more special than anywhere else."

For that hometown connection and family motivation, Simmons is a little more driven to push FAMU football to its historical prominence.

So far, so good with nothing but winning seasons since his arrival.

"I grew up just down the street in Quincy and inside of Bragg Memorial Stadium watching football games," Simmons said. "It's always been a place that we always felt was special and could be one of the top programs in the country and we're well on our way to getting there."

A Rattler at last

Following graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Marketing in three years ― the fastest any Clemson football player has ever completed their courses, Simmons elected to transfer for his final year of eligibility during the 2003 season.

Initially, he chose FAMU, but was deemed ineligible to play since the program was in provisional status to make the jump to Division I-A (now FBS).

So, Simmons finished his college career at The Citadel and led the Bulldogs to their first non-losing season in 10 years while picking up All-Southern Conference First Team honors.

Simmons again wasn't granted the opportunity to come to FAMU as he applied for the vacant head coach position to replace Earl Holmes following his third and final season as Alcorn State's offensive coordinator and running backs coach.

Instead, FAMU hired Alex Wood while Simmons went on to head coach Prairie View A&M's football team from 2015-2017 and led the program to its first winning season since 2010.

"I think it makes for a great story being denied a chance to play here for my senior year but given the opportunity to coach here," he said. "I applied for the job in 2014, so to be able to come back and get the job the second time showed that the timing was right.

"2003 wasn't my time to be on the Highest of Seven Hills as a player and 2014 wasn't my time to be named head coach. Everything happens for a reason and I'm just glad that the door was open when it was to come back and lead this program."

Joining a rich FAMU coaching legacy and learning to just enjoy the moment

Being named the 18th full-time head football coach of the Rattlers immediately entered Simmons in a long line of legendary FAMU coaches led by the winningest coach in program history Alonzo 'Jake' Gaither and the first and only HBCU coach to win a Division I-AA (now FCS) championship Rudy Hubbard.

Other prestigious names in FAMU football include Ken Riley, Joe Taylor, Billy Joe, and Jubie Bragg ― who is memorialized along with his son, Eugene as Bragg Memorial Stadium's namesake.

"It's an extremely humbling feeling to everyday walk into a building that they built for a program that they made what it is today," Simmons said. "To be mentioned in the same breath as those guys, who are all hall of famers, is a mantle that I hope to live up to.

"That keeps me going because I'm walking into big shoes which is an understatement."

The perfectionist and coach that he is, Simmons had to learn to soak in the moment.

Though the Rattlers would consistently win games, at times, he'd harp on mistakes made instead of celebrating the victory.

"I'd tell myself to just embrace it and enjoy the wins and journey because you don't know when you're no longer able to do it," Simmons said. "I was so engulfed on trying to win and even when we won games, I wasn't always happy and didn't celebrate with the guys or the coaches because we didn't play well.

"Winning is hard and coaches get fired every year for not winning. We've been blessed here and won a ton of games."

A lot of connections made and even more community support in Tallahassee

Simmons has just under 20 years of coaching experience ― which began at Tallahassee's Lincoln High School as the Trojans' passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2005.

Since starting in the coaching ranks, he's built eternal relationships with coaches and players as his career continues to progress.

"Sports is a relationship-driven profession and is all about establishing those lifelong bonds," Simmons said. "I still talk to players and coaches from my first year here because we're all a part of this unique and special family.

"Once we go through the battles, we're linked forever."

The receptiveness of the Big Bend community has not gone unnoticed for Simmons.

Through triumph or failure, he knows that the sea of orange and green is always behind him and his football team.

"There's no nation like Rattler Nation," Simmons said. "They've given overwhelming support over the last five years and it's been amazing.

"The wins. The losses. The big wins, close wins. The big losses to close losses. They've been consistent and very supportive.

"That's what you ask for and I'm extremely blessed to be part of such a great fanbase that truly loves and supports these young men."

Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Willie Simmons celebrates fifth anniversary with Rattlers