Jason Simpson's coaching tree is well-documented, particularly amongst his peers.
And with Brandon Butcher joining the ranks of former Simpson assistants at UT Martin now coaching at a higher level of football as defensive coordinator for FBS program UTEP, Simpson is again adjusting his Skyhawks staff.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Simpson has elevated veteran coach Jerry Partridge into the role of UT Martin defensive coordinator.
A former head coach who stands as NCAA Division II Missouri Western's all-time wins leader, Partridge is entering his third year on the Skyhawks staff and replaces Butch, following his departure to Scotty Walden's UTEP staff last month, as the new defensive play-caller.
Partridge traces his coaching roots back to the late 1980s, first breaking into the profession as a graduate assistant at Missouri and then serving in a similar capacity for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame in 1988, helping the Fighting Irish to earn their last national championship.
He also has stops at Austin Peay, Murray State and Northern Arizona as well as his two-decades run atop the Missouri Western program.
Simpson is among the longest-tenured coaches anywhere in NCAA football, preparing to to lead UT Martin into the 2025 season in his 20th year at the helm.
The Skyhawks are coming off an nine-win season featuring an FCS Playoff win before falling to top-ranked and eventual national runner-up Montana State in the postseason.
UT Martin, a winner in 34 games during Simpson's career-best stretch of four consecutive winning seasons, opens its 2025 slate Thursday, Aug. 28, at Mike Gundy's Oklahoma State program. It then travels nine days later to face Walden, Butcher and the Miners in El Paso, Texas.