Derek Simmons to Join Baseball Staff
7/25/2017 3:43:00 PM | Baseball
Head Coach Jeff Duncan has announced the hiring of Derek Simmons to join the Kent State baseball staff as an assistant coach beginning July 2017.
"I'm so excited to have Derek join the Kent State family," said Duncan. "Derek is a proven recruiter and developer and he will have a great impact on our student-athletes. He has an infectious personality and is a very good communicator. His experience at Alabama, Kennesaw State, Central Michigan and Team USA will give us great insight and help push the program forward."
"My wife Erin and I and our family are extremely excited to join the Kent State baseball program," said Simmons. "Kent State has a tremendous reputation throughout the baseball community and I am very privileged to be working with Coach Duncan and Coach Birkbeck. I look forward to continuing to build on the rich tradition here at Kent State University."
Simmons comes to Kent State from Alabama where he was an assistant coach since July 2016. With the Crimson Tide, he oversaw the infielders, assisted with the hitters, coached first base, was the camp coordinator, on-campus recruiter and was the academic liaison. Alabama's infielders led the Southeastern Conference with 50 double plays while the team improved in various hitting categories and signed nationally-ranked recruiting classes with Simmons on staff.
Prior to Alabama, Simmons coached for four seasons at Kennesaw State, helping grab the program's first regular season conference championship in 2016 and the first conference tournament championship in program history in 2014. With Simmons on staff, the Owls went 127-82 overall and 57-37 in conference play. He helped mentor five All-Americans, 31 all-conference honorees and had 16 players get selected in the MLB Draft, including a first-rounder. At Kennesaw State, Simmons oversaw the team's hitting, recruiting, administrative duties, academics and camps.
Simmons has been a part of USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars since 2012. He also has Mid-American Conference experience as he was the hitting coach and volunteer assistant coach at Central Michigan from August 2010 to July 2012, helping the Chippewas claim a 2011 MAC West title and place seven student-athletes on the All-MAC team.
Simmons started his playing career at the University of Montevallo, qualifying for the Division II College World Series in 2006. After earning two letters there, he went on to be a two-year letterwinner and captain at Georgia State. Simmons earned first team all-conference accolades, becoming the first player in Georgia State history to be a first-team honoree twice. He finished his career ranked in the top ten in numerous single season categories, including homeruns, runs scored and RBI, while posting a .344 career batting average for the Panthers.
After college, Simmons played one season in independent baseball before entering the coaching profession.
