Baseball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- dsimmo18@kent.edu
- Phone:
- 330-672-8434
Derek Simmons was hired as an assistant coach on the Kent State baseball staff in July 2017 and works closely with position players and batters, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator.
In addition to aiding Kent State to a Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament title in 2018, Simmons had two outfielders named to the All-MAC First Team and three position players named to the All-MAC Second Team. Tim DalPorto was also a semi-finalist for the Johnny Bench Award.
Under Simmons' guidance, Kent State’s offense finished at the top of the conference in batting average, hits, runs, and RBIs, while also finishing in the top-35 nationally in batting average. Defensively, the Flashes were in the top-40 nationally in fielding percentage.
Entering the 2018-19 school year, Kent State’s incoming freshman class was ranked 25th nationally, according to Collegiate Baseball.
“I’m so excited to have Derek join the Kent State family,” said Duncan upon Simmons’ arrival. “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.”
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 Atlantic Sun championship in 2016, a Super Regional appearance, 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-ASUN honorees, and had 16 players selected in the MLB Draft, including a first-rounder. At Kennesaw State, Simmons oversaw the team’s hitting, recruiting, administrative duties, academics, and camps.
Under the guidance of Simmons, the Owls batted .294 as a team and ranked fourth all-time in program history for a single season, propelling Kennesaw State to a 17-4 mark in conference play in 2016. The Owls totaled 85 doubles, 12 triples, and 40 home runs, leading to the team’s first regular season ASUN title in program history.
Simmons played a key role for Kennesaw State’s historic run in 2014, in which the team won its first ever Atlantic Sun Conference Championship as well as the NCAA Division I Tallahassee Regional. The Owls finished the season third in the nation in total hits (677) and 18thin batting average (.297).
Simmons 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 has been a part of USA Baseball’s Tournament of Stars since 2012, and was named assistant coach for Team USA’s 14u National Team Development Program in 2018.
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 letter winner 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 home runs, 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. He and his wife, Erin, have two children, Bella and Braxton.
