Charles Simmons (American football)

Charles Wayne Simmons (September 15, 1931 – February 23, 2020) was an American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas from 1967 to 1975 and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas from 1976 to 1981. Simmons was also the athletic director at Stephen F. Austin during the same years.

Charles Simmons
Biographical details
Born(1931-09-15)September 15, 1931
Nacogdoches County, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 23, 2020(2020-02-23) (aged 88)
Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1949–1950Del Mar
1954–1955Stephen F. Austin
Position(s)Fullback, guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1957–1960Carthage HS (TX) (assistant)
1961Leverett's Chapel HS (TX)
1962DeKalb HS (TX)
1963–1966Stephen F. Austin (OL)
1967–1975Kilgore
1976–1981Stephen F. Austin
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1976–1981Stephen F. Austin
Head coaching record
Overall19–44–1 (college)
55–34–3 (junior college)
9–11 (high school)
Bowls0–1 (junior college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 TJCFF (1968, 1970, 1975)
Awards
LSC Coach of the Year (1979)

A native of Nacogdoches, Simmons graduated from Nacogdoches High School. He then played football at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas and Stephen F. Austin. After graduating from Stephen F. Austin in 1957, Simmons spent four years as an assistant footfall coach at Carthage High School in Carthage, Texas. He was the head football coach at Leverett's Chapel High School in 1961 and DeKalb High School (TX) of De Kalb, Texas in 1962. Simmons returned to Stephen F. Austin in 1963 and worked as offensive line coach for four seasons under Shorty Hughes. He succeeded Boyd Converse as head football coach at Kilgore in 1967.[1] Simmons led Kilgore to three Texas Junior College Football Federation (TJCFF) titles, in 1968, 1970, 1975.[2]

Simmons was named Lone Star Conference (LSC) Coach of the Year in 1979 after leading Stephen F. Austin and an 8–3 record a title for second place in the conference. He was fired from his post at head football coach and athletic director following the 1981 season.[3]

Simmons died on February 23, 2020, at his home in Nacogdoches.[4]

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NAIA Division I#
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (Lone Star Conference) (1976–1981)
1976 Stephen F. Austin 1–9–1 1–6 8th
1977 Stephen F. Austin 2–8 2–5 6th
1978 Stephen F. Austin 3–8 3–4 T–5th
1979 Stephen F. Austin 8–3 5–2 T–2nd 17
1980 Stephen F. Austin 4–6 4–3 5th
1981 Stephen F. Austin 1–10 0–7 8th
Stephen F. Austin: 19–44–1 15–27
Total: 19–44–1

[5]

Junior college

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Kilgore Rangers (Texas Junior College Football Federation) (1967–1875)
1967 Kilgore 5–5 4–3 T–3rd
1968 Kilgore 7–3 6–1 T–1st
1969 Kilgore 4–6 4–3 3rd
1970 Kilgore 7–2–1 6–0–1 1st
1971 Kilgore 8–2–1 6–1 2nd L Wool Bowl
1972 Kilgore 6–4 4–3 4th
1973 Kilgore 4–6 3–4 T–4th
1974 Kilgore 6–3–1 4–3 4th
1975 Kilgore 8–3 5–1 1st
Kilgore: 55–34–3 42–19–1
Total: 55–34–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

High school

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Leverett's Chapel Lions () (1961)
1961 Leverett's Chapel 4–6
Leverett's Chapel: 4–6
DeKalb Bears () (1962)
1962 DeKalb 5–5
DeKalb: 5–5
Total: 9–11

References

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  1. ^ "Charles Simmons New Grid Mentor for Kilgore Rangers". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. January 11, 1967. p. C1. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ Elliot, Scott (January 8, 1976). "Simmons Resigns KC Post For SFA Helm". Kilgore News Herald. Kilgore, Texas. p. 2. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "SFA fires Charles Simmons". Corpus Christi Caller. Corpus Christi, Texas. Associated Press. October 27, 1981. p. 4D. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  4. ^ "Charles Wayne Simmons Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "NCAA Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 31, 2024.