Career Photo GalleryCoaching Accomplishments
• Served a pair of three-season stints during his six campaigns on the Golden Bear staff, coaching the cornerbacks from 1998-2000 and the defensive backs from 2008-10.
• A member of the defensive coaching staff in 2010 when Cal led the Pac-10 and ranked among the nation's top 25 teams in sacks (2.83 spg, No. 13 NCAA), total defense (319.08 ypg, No. 18 NCAA) and pass defense (187.00 ypg, No. 21 NCAA), improving significantly from the previous season in all three categories.
• Coached a 2008 defensive backs group that accounted for 17 of the team's 24 interceptions, which was the third-highest total in school history and the most in 60 years since the 1948 squad recorded 30.
• Helped Arizona State to a share of the Pac-10 crown in 2007 as part of a defensive coaching staff that had its group ranked third in the league in both scoring and pass defense.
• Was key in the transformation of one-time tailback Deltha O'Neal into an All-American defensive back during his first stint at Cal as O'Neal was the first cornerback selected in the 2000 NFL Draft.
• In 2003 with the San Francisco 49ers, the defense recorded 36 takeaways, its most since 1997.
• Coached All-American cornerback Dennis Weathersby at Oregon State in 2002, when the Beavers led the Pac-10 in pass defense.
• Helped San Francisco State place second in the Northern California Athletic Conference in total defense, pass defense, turnovers created and scoring defense in 1994.
• Was the defensive coordinator at Cal State Hayward for his final six seasons at the school from 1988-93, with his 1992 defense finishing first in the Northern California Athletic Conference in scoring defense and second in total defense.
• Has participated in the NFL's Minority Fellowship Coaching program with the Oakland Raiders (1993), Arizona Cardinals (1996), San Diego Chargers (1999) and Dallas Cowboys (2000).
Prominent Pupils
• Chris Conte (California) - Emerged as a first-team All-Pac-10 safety as a senior in 2010 while ranking third on the team with 72 tackles after spending his first three seasons at Cal as a part-time starter shuttling between cornerback and safety.
• Chidi Iwuoma (California) - Cornerback signed as a free agent by Detroit; spent seven seasons in the NFL with Detroit (2001-02), Pittsburgh (2002-06), New England (2006), St. Louis (2006) and Tennessee (2007).
• Deltha O'Neal (California) - All-American cornerback selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and recorded 34 career interceptions in nine years in the league with Denver (2000-03), Cincinnati (2004-07) and New England (2008).
• Syd'Quan Thompson (California) - A two-time All-Pac-10 cornerback (2008, '09) that set Cal career records by starting all 52 games possible during his four campaigns (2006-09) and totaling 36 pass breakups; led the squad with four interceptions that he returned for 128 yards and one touchdown, while also tying for the team lead and school record with 18 passes defended in 2008; played the 2010 NFL campaign with the Denver Broncos after being drafted by the club in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
• Justin Tryon (Arizona State) - Cornerback who spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with Washington Redskins after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft, before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts for the 2010 campaign; earned second team All-Pac-10 in 2007.
• Dennis Weathersby (Oregon State) - All-American cornerback for the Beavers; played one season in the NFL in 2003 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Accomplishments as a Player
• A two-time first-team All-Northern California Conference selection as a strong safety at Cal State Hayward, where he played in 1983 and 1984.
The Simmons File
Birthdate December 6, 1962
Hometown Oakland, Calif.
High School Oakland HS
College Cal State Hayward '87
Bachelor's in Business Administration
Master's in Physical Education
Family Single
Coaching History
2008-10 California
Defensive Backs
2006-07 Arizona State Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs (2007), Defensive Backs (2006)
2005 San Jose State Cornerbacks
2003-04 San Francisco 49ers Defensive Backs (2004), Cornerbacks (2003)
2001-02 Oregon State Defensive Backs 1998-2000 California Cornerbacks
1997 Idaho State Defensive Coordinator
1995-96 Montana State Defensive Backs
1994 San Francisco State Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
1986-1993 Cal State Hayward Defensive Coordinator (1988-93), Linebackers/Defensive Backs (1986-87)
Bowl Games (5)
2009 Poinsettia Bowl California
2008 Emerald Bowl California
2007 Holiday Bowl Arizona State
2006 Hawaii Bowl Arizona State
2002 Insight Bowl Oregon State
LAST UPDATED: January 4, 2011
