Former Oklahoma State Football Coach Bob Simmons Dies

STILLWATER – Former Oklahoma State head football coach Bob Simmons died on Tuesday, June 9. Simmons dies within two weeks of former Oklahoma State University athletic director Terry Don Phillips, who hired Simmons in 1994 from Colorado. Simmons served as the Cowboys head coach six seasons and finished with a record of 30-38. His coaching tenure at Oklahoma State was highlighted by a .500 record (3-3) vs. Bedlam rival Oklahoma. Simmons first team in 1995 broke a Bedlam losing skid with a 12-0 win over the Sooners and then head coach Howard Schnellenberger. Simmons family announced his passing on social media and did not give a cause of death. Simmons was 77-years-old.

USA TODAY/The Oklahoman

Simmons at the press conference where he was announced as head coach.

In 1997 Simmons had his best season as OSU head coach with the Cowboys winning the six games of the season including a 42-16 win at home over Texas and a 33-29 win over No. 24-ranked Colorado. The team went on to go 2-3 in the final five games of the season but did beat OU 30-7. The Cowboys were rewarded with a bid to the Alamo Bowl where they lost to No. 17 Purdue 33-20. 

Mired in a seven game losing streak in the 2000 season, Phillips, who had hired Simmons informed him he was firing him. Simmons, given the choice, finished out the season that ended 3-8. Phillips replaced Simmons with one of his former assistant in Les Miles. Miles had left three seasons earlier to join the staff of the Dallas Cowboys.

Miles used some of the top players that Simmons had recruited to forge a winning culture with a record of 28-21 over four seasons before he left to take over at LSU. Mike Gundy then took over and became the winningest coach in Oklahoma State history.

Simmons did recruit well with players Jamal Williams, R.W. McQuarters, Juqua Parker, Tatum Bell, Kevin Williams, Jack Golden, Dwayne Levels, and Kenyatta Wright, who all wound up in the NFL. He also brought in talent like Tony Lindsay, Alvin Porter, Jacoby Shepherd, Rashaun Woods, and Reggie White.

Simmons time at Oklahoma State was also marked by controversy over who played quarterback at times. It also was hampered by nepotism as players complained that Simmons’ son Nathan played running back over what they felt was a more talented teammate in Jamal Fobbs.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Simmons played linebacker at Bowling Green. He then coached for more than three decades, including as the linebackers coach at Colorado, where he won a national title in 1990. It was from Colorado that Simmons landed the Oklahoma State job.

Simmons started his coaching career at his alma mater Bowling Green (1976) before moving on to Toledo (1977-79), and West Virginia (1980-87). After Oklahoma State he coached at Notre Dame (2002-04) and Washington (2005-07). He was hired as Boulder (Colorado) High School's head coach in 2013 following a stint at Portland State.