Western Michigan University Athletics

Matt Simon was officially announced as the wide receivers coach for the Western Michigan football program in February of 2014.

In 2015 Matt Simon coached the most prolific receiver duo in the country since 2002. The duo of Daniel Braverman and Corey Davis were the first WR duo since 2002 to go over 1,400 and 1,300 yards in the same year (Davis – 1,436, Braverman – 1,371).

Braverman and Davis were each named to the All-MAC team in 2015. Braverman finished second in the FBS nationally with 108 receptions, eighth in receiving yards with 1,371 and eighth in receiving TDs with 12. Davis was fifth in the country with 1,436 receiving yards and in receiving TDs with 13 while placing 12^th in total receptions with 90.

Davis enters the 2016 season as the active leading receiver in the FBS with 3,785 yards. He is currently 26^th in FBS history and second in MAC history just 400 yards away from the all-time record in MAC career yards (Jordan White, 4187). His 1,400 yards in 2014 and 2015 made him the first FBS receiver since Justin Blackmon in 2010-11 to have back-to-back 1,400 yard seasons.

Davis and Braverman asserted themselves in history in the Western Michigan history books in 2015 as the 12 TD receptions by Braverman put him fifth in a single season at WMU while Davis’ 13 TDs put him fourth. Braverman’s 1,371 yards are fifth most in one year by a Bronco and Davis’ 1,436 yards are second most all-time. 

WMU’s receivers flourished under Simon in his first season. Corey Davis was named First Team All-MAC, while Daniel Braverman was named Second Team All-MAC. Both had career-best seasons in every statistical category. Heading into the 2015 season Davis was named a Presason All-American by Phil Steele.

Simon, who spent two seasons at Rutgers, is rejoined with WMU head coach P.J. Fleck, who was the Edina, Minn., native's position coach at Northern Illinois.

In 2012 with the Scarlet Knights, Simon assisted the coaching and academic personnel in day-to-day duties, also aiding with special teams film breakdown and game plans. He worked with the scout team by utilizing weekly scouting reports on upcoming opponents. Simon helped with calls and adjustments during games.  The following season he moved on to work with Rutgers' wide receivers.

Prior to arriving in Piscataway, he worked as an assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) for the 2011 season and focused on tight ends and all four special teams units. Simon performed breakdown of opponent film, also coordinating film responsibilities and data entry. He recruited the state of Florida (Dade, Broward, Lee and Collier counties).

Simon started his coaching career at his alma mater in offensive quality control in 2010. He put together weekly opponent scouting reports after breaking down film to help formulate game plans.

A wide receiver, Simon earned four letters for the Huskies from 2004-08 and served as a co-captain. He collected 1,660 receiving yards on 96 catches for an average of 17.3 yards per catch. Simon caught passes in 20 straight games during one stretch and totaled five career 100-yard receiving games. 

He racked up a team-best 969 yards on 52 catches in 2007, ranking seventh on NIU's single-season receiving yards list.  During his senior year, he was one of only 22 players in nation selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for leadership and work in the community.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree as a science in organizational management major, Simon (28/DOB: 12-4-85) signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints and spent six months on the practice squad.