Back as a head coach in the state of Florida, Willie Simmons is advancing in his assembly of his initial staff at Florida International.
And Simmons is electing to keep some key defensive staff members on the FIU staff.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Simmons is retaining Jovan DeWitt as the head coach of the defense; he had been the program's defensive coordinator.
Additionally, Anthony Gaitor, who coached outside linebackers for the Panthers, will remain on staff as FIU's cornerbacks coach under Simmons.
DeWitt has considerable coaching experience at a variety of levels of college football, including Power Conference stints at both Nebraska and North Carolina; he's coached as well under Jeff Monken at Army.
Gaitor was drafted into the NFL by the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2011 and had a brief pro career before he transitioned into coaching.