Roy Simmons Jr.

{{Short description|American lacrosse coach (born 1935)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Roy Simmons Jr. | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1935|8|6}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = | player_years1 = 1955–1958 | player_team1 = Syracuse | coach_years1 = 1959–1970 | coach_team1 = Syracuse (freshmen) | coach_years2 = 1971–1998 | coach_team2 = Syracuse | overall_record = 290–96 | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = *1983 NCAA Division I national championship *1988 NCAA Division I national championship *1989 NCAA Division I national championship *1990 NCAA Division I national championship (later vacated) *1993 NCAA Division I national championship *1995 NCAA Division I national championship | awards = As player: *1957 honorable mention All-American *1958 honorable mention All-American *1991 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame As coach: *1980 F. Morris Touchstone Award | coaching_records = }}

'''Roy D. Simmons Jr.''' (born August 6, 1935)<ref name="SHOF">{{cite web|title=Roy Simmons Jr.|publisher=Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame|url=http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/pages/inductees/1990/roy_simmons_jr.html|accessdate=October 11, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529013904/http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/pages/inductees/1990/roy_simmons_jr.html|archivedate=May 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a former American lacrosse coach who was the head coach of the Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team from 1971 to 1998. Simmons' teams won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's Lacrosse Championship six times (one was later vacated), and appeared in the national semifinals 16 consecutive seasons. He won the F. Morris Touchstone Award for the coach of the year in NCAA men's lacrosse in 1980, and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1991.

==Early life and playing career== Simmons's father, Roy Simmons Sr., was the coach of Syracuse's men's lacrosse team for 39 seasons; he was a 1964 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Roy Simmons Sr. Is Dead at 94; Coached Lacrosse at Syracuse|work=The New York Times|date=August 21, 1994|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/21/obituaries/roy-simmons-sr-is-dead-at-94-coached-lacrosse-at-syracuse.html|accessdate=November 15, 2012}}</ref> According to Simmons Jr., during his early years he was a mascot for his father's teams, and was a regular in the team's locker room.<ref name="success">{{cite web|last1=Simmons|first1=Roy|last2=Reynolds|first2=Lauren|title=Tradition breeds success at Syracuse|date=April 6, 2011 |publisher=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=6226242|access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> He was also interested in boxing, and Simmons Sr. referred to him as "Slugger".<ref name="Galpin192">Galpin, Greene, Wilson and Barck, p. 192.</ref> Simmons Jr. attended Kimball Union Academy, playing on the school's lacrosse team for three seasons.<ref name="Hall">{{cite web|title=Roy D. Simmons Jr.|publisher=Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame|url=http://apps.uslacrosse.org/museum/halloffame/view_profile.php?prof_id=187|accessdate=October 11, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524003909/http://apps.uslacrosse.org/museum/halloffame/view_profile.php?prof_id=187|archivedate=May 24, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Beginning in 1955, Simmons Jr. went to Syracuse University,<ref name="SHOF"/> playing on the lacrosse team coached by his father. In 1957, the Orange posted an undefeated record; Simmons Jr. trailed only Jim Brown among the team's top scorers, and was named an honorable mention All-American.<ref name="success"/><ref name="Hall"/> The Orange finished second in the end-of-season national rankings, behind Johns Hopkins.<ref name="collages">{{cite journal|last=Lidz|first=Franz|title='My Teams Are Collages'|journal=Sports Illustrated|date=March 26, 1984|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1984/03/26/569047/my-teams-are-collages|accessdate=October 11, 2016}}</ref> He repeated as an honorable mention All-American selection the next season, when he served as captain for Syracuse.<ref name="Hall"/>

==Coaching career== In 1958, Simmons graduated from Syracuse with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture, and the following year he joined his father's staff as coach of the freshman lacrosse team.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Syracuse 100: Top 10 Moments in Orange History|magazine=Inside Lacrosse|date=May 16, 2016|url=https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/syracuse-100-top-10-moments-in-orange-history/35166?fb_comment_id=1067210866684454_1068216909917183|access-date=June 8, 2021}}</ref> Twelve years later, he succeeded his father as head coach of the varsity team. Early in his head coaching career, the program faced budget limitations and was unsuccessful, with losing records in three straight seasons.<ref name="collages"/><ref>Maiorana and Pitoniak, p. 163.</ref> In 1974, it had a 2–9 win–loss record, and Simmons once fielded two goaltenders during a game against Cornell.<ref name="collages"/> Eventually, he received increased support in the form of scholarships and focused his recruiting efforts on central New York-based high school players.<ref name="collages"/><ref>Maiorana and Pitoniak, pp. 163–164.</ref> In addition, Simmons had numerous players from the Iroquois tribe.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kirst|first=Sean|title=Lacrosse links a lasting friendship|work=The Post-Standard|date=April 3, 2010|url=http://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2010/04/lacrosse_links_a_lasting_frien.html|accessdate=November 17, 2012}}</ref> Previously, he had relied on local Native Americans and ex-members of the Syracuse Orange football team to form the basis of his rosters.<ref name="Galpin192"/> Syracuse reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 1979.<ref>Maiorana and Pitoniak, p. 164.</ref> In 1980, the Orange reached the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Johns Hopkins, their furthest advancement in the event to that point under the leadership of Simmons.<ref name="collages"/> Simmons was named the coach of the year in Division I men's lacrosse, claiming the F. Morris Touchstone Award.<ref name="Hall"/>

Syracuse earned another NCAA Tournament bid in 1981, but was not selected the following season; this was the last time until 2005 that the Orange did not reach the national semifinals. In 1983, Syracuse posted an 11–1 record in the regular season—losing only to Army—then defeated Pennsylvania and Maryland in the NCAA Tournament to reach the championship game against top-ranked Johns Hopkins.<ref>Maiorana and Pitoniak, pp. 89–90.</ref> After entering halftime with a four-goal deficit to Johns Hopkins, Simmons Jr. forbid his players from entering the team's locker room, telling them "There is no sanctuary."<ref name="collages"/> The Orange trailed 12–5 at one point in the second half, but rallied for a 17–16 victory, claiming the program's first NCAA Tournament title and first national championship since 1925.<ref name="collages"/>

Entering the 1984 NCAA Tournament, the Orange were unbeaten.<ref name="era">{{cite web|title=100 Years of Syracuse Lacrosse: The Second Roy Simmons Jr. Era|publisher=Syracuse University|url=http://www.cuse.com/news/2016/4/15/mens-lacrosse-100-years-of-syracuse-lacrosse-the-second-roy-simmons-jr-era.aspx|accessdate=May 26, 2016}}</ref> They reached the final but lost in a rematch against Johns Hopkins, 13–10.<ref name="NCAA">{{cite web|title=Men's Lacrosse: Championship History|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/lacrosse-men/d1|accessdate=November 16, 2012}}</ref> After Syracuse finished the 1985 regular season with a 12–1 record, the teams met in the NCAA Tournament final;<ref name="era"/> Syracuse was again defeated by Johns Hopkins, 11–4. The Orange were eliminated in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament the next two seasons, against Virginia and Cornell, respectively. However, 1987 marked the Syracuse debuts of brothers Gary and Paul Gait.<ref name="Galpin195">Galpin, Greene, Wilson and Barck, p. 195.</ref> The Gaits, who had resided in Canada, were recruited by Simmons at a time when Canadian lacrosse players typically took part in indoor games.<ref name="Maiorana148">Maiorana and Pitoniak, p. 148.</ref> Before the Gaits started playing for Syracuse, Simmons called them "the two greatest lacrosse players I've ever seen in my life"; the pair combined for 118 goals in 1988.<ref name="Galpin195"/> In 1988, Simmons led Syracuse to the NCAA Tournament title for a second time. The Orange, playing in Syracuse, defeated Cornell 13–8 in the championship game to finish the season with a perfect 15–0 record.<ref name="NCAA"/> Simmons later recruited Tom Marechek, the university's second-leading goal scorer behind Gary Gait. He received a recommendation about Marechek from the Gaits, and offered him a scholarship without watching any of his games.<ref name="Maiorana148"/> In 1989, Simmons's team lost to Johns Hopkins in their first game, which was their only defeat of the season.<ref name="era"/> The Orange repeated as NCAA champions, winning the NCAA Tournament final 13–12 over Johns Hopkins.<ref name="NCAA"/>

Syracuse returned to the championship game of the NCAA Tournament in 1990, defeating Loyola 21–9 to give Simmons an apparent fourth title, and third in a row.<ref name="NCAA"/> However, in 1995 the NCAA stripped Syracuse of the championship after a report that an automobile loan for Paul Gait was co-signed by Simmons's wife, Nancy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syracuse Loses Lacrosse Title|work=The New York Times|date=June 11, 1995|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/11/sports/syracuse-loses-lacrosse-title.html|accessdate=November 17, 2012}}</ref> North Carolina prevented Syracuse from playing in the championship game of the 1991 NCAA Tournament with a 19–13 victory in the semifinals.<ref name="era"/> The Orange reached the national championship game for the seventh time in ten seasons in 1992, but were defeated by Princeton, 10–9 in double overtime. Simmons's team made another national championship game appearance the next season, this time winning 13–12 over North Carolina.<ref name="NCAA"/> By 1995, Simmons was thinking of stepping down from the Orange lacrosse program, following personal and family health issues. His team reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the 13th consecutive season, and faced Maryland for the title.<ref>{{cite news|last=Preston|first=Mike|title=Simmons considers retirement|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=May 29, 1995|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/05/29/simmons-considers-retirement/|access-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref> With a 13–9 Syracuse victory, Simmons claimed his sixth national championship, counting the vacated 1990 title.<ref name="NCAA"/>

Simmons remained the head coach of the Syracuse lacrosse team through 1998, and his 1996–98 teams each won 11 games before being eliminated in the national semifinals.<ref name="era"/> He announced his retirement following an 11–10 defeat against Princeton in the 1998 Final Four.<ref name="retires">{{cite news|last1=Preston|first1=Mike|last2=Hensley|first2=Jamison|title=Syracuse's Simmons retires as winningest active coach in sport: 19-year assistant Desko to replace 62-year-old|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=May 24, 1998|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1998/05/24/syracuses-simmons-retires-as-winningest-active-coach-in-sport-19-year-assistant-desko-to-replace-62-year-old/|access-date=November 18, 2012}}</ref> He later indicated that a desire to pursue an art hobby and have more family time was the reason for his decision.<ref name="Case23">Case, p. 23.</ref> He was 290–96 in his head coaching career, and had a streak of reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in 16 consecutive seasons prior to his retirement.<ref name="retires"/>

==Honors== The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inducted Simmons in 1991 for his playing career.<ref name="Hall"/> One year earlier, he had been selected to be a member of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name="SHOF"/>

==Family== Simmons and his late wife, Nancy, a physical education teacher, had three children.<ref name="Case23"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Nancy Simmons: Obituary|work=The Post-Standard|date=December 9, 2007|url=http://obits.syracuse.com/obituaries/syracuse/obituary.aspx?n=nancy-simmons&pid=99304990|accessdate=January 6, 2017}}</ref> One of his children, Roy III, is the director of operations for Syracuse's men's lacrosse team, and played on Simmons's 1978–1981 teams.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roy Simmons III|publisher=Syracuse University|url=http://www.suathletics.com/staff.aspx?staff=87|accessdate=November 18, 2012}}</ref> His grandson, Ryan Simmons, also played lacrosse for the Orange.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kramer |first1=Lindsay |title=Family drama: How one goal brought a historic Syracuse lacrosse lineage to tears |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangelacrosse/2018/03/army_drama_how_a_plea_and_a_goal_turned_a_historic_syracuse_lacrosse_family_to_t.html |access-date=September 2, 2021 |work=The Post-Standard |date=March 2, 2018}}</ref>

==Head coaching record== {{CBB yearly record start | type=coach | conference= | postseason= | poll=no }} {{CBB yearly record subhead| | name = Syracuse Orangemen | startyear = 1971 | conference = NCAA independent | endyear = 1998 }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1971 | name = Syracuse | overall = 9–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1972 | name = Syracuse | overall = 8–8 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1973 | name = Syracuse | overall = 4–6 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1974 | name = Syracuse | overall = 2–9 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1975 | name = Syracuse | overall = 3–8 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1976 | name = Syracuse | overall = 7–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1977 | name = Syracuse | overall = 8–6 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1978 | name = Syracuse | overall = 10–3 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1979 | name = Syracuse | overall = 10–5 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I quarterfinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1980 | name = Syracuse | overall = 12–2 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1981 | name = Syracuse | overall = 7–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I quarterfinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1982 | name = Syracuse | overall = 6–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = national | season = 1983 | name = Syracuse | overall = 14–1 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I champion }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1984 | name = Syracuse | overall = 15–1 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I runner-up }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1985 | name = Syracuse | overall = 14–2 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I runner-up }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1986 | name = Syracuse | overall = 14–3 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1987 | name = Syracuse | overall = 9–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = national | season = 1988 | name = Syracuse | overall = 15–0 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I champion }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = national | season = 1989 | name = Syracuse | overall = 14–1 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I champion }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = national | season = 1990 | name = Syracuse | overall = 13–0 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I champion <i>(vacated)</i> }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1991 | name = Syracuse | overall = 12–3 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1992 | name = Syracuse | overall = 13–2 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I runner-up }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = national | season = 1993 | name = Syracuse | overall = 12–2 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I champion }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1994 | name = Syracuse | overall = 13–2 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = national | season = 1995 | name = Syracuse | overall = 13–2 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I champion }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1996 | name = Syracuse | overall = 11–4 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1997 | name = Syracuse | overall = 11–3 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record entry | season = 1998 | name = Syracuse | overall = 11–3 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = NCAA Division I semifinals }} {{CBB yearly record end | overall = 290–96 ({{winpct|290|96}}) }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Case|first=Dick|title=Remembering Syracuse|publisher=The History Press|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSdcC0LZgMoC|isbn=9781596295834}} *{{cite book|last1=Galpin|first1=William Freeman|last2=Greene|first2=John Robert|last3=Wilson|first3=Richard|last4=Barck|first4=Oscar Theodore|title=Syracuse University: The Corbally and Eggers Years, 1969–1991|publisher=Syracuse University Press|year=1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kd2MsADwS14C|isbn=9780815605492}} *{{cite book|last1=Maiorana|first1=Sal|last2=Pitoniak|first2=Scott|title=Slices of Orange: Great Games & Performers in Syracuse University Sports History|publisher=Syracuse University Press|year=2005|url=https://archive.org/details/slicesoforangegr0000maio|url-access=registration|isbn=9780815608448}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Roy Jr.}} Category:1935 births Category:Living people Category:Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse coaches Category:Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse players Category:Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts alumni