Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2003
Steve Simmons (men's track and field head coach, 1971-75) produced three NCAA Division I champions -- Reynaldo Brown in the high jump in 1971 and 1973 and Mohinder Gill in the triple jump in 1971. Gill also earned a national title in the 1971 NCAA indoor triple jump.
In Division II Simmons coached Cal Poly to a runner-up finish in 1971 and thirds in both 1974 and 1975. He produced eight national champions -- Clancy Edwards (3), Reynaldo Brown (2), Dave Hamer (2) and Mohinder Gill (1).
In all, Simmons coached 12 national champions (including four in Division I), 45 All-Americans, three Olympians, two USA track and field champions, 20 NCAA record holders, eight conference record holders and 16 school record breakers while at Cal Poly.
Simmons attended Roosevelt High School in Dayton, Ohio, and Los Angeles City College before earning his bachelor's degree at Chapman College and his master's in education at Cal Poly. He was an All-American high hurdler at Chapman and an all-conference basketball player at LACC.
Prior to his appointment at Cal Poly, Simmons was an assistant coach at Chapman (1966-70). He went on to be Oregon State's head coach from 1976-79 and currently is a vice president at Accusplit Sports Timing. He resides in San Jose.
Simmons was the Team Leader of the 1992 USA Olympic Track and Field Team and an assistant manager of U.S. Olympic teams in 1980 and 1984. He is one of only four men in U.S. history to serve on three Olympic staffs.
Simmons also was team leader and coach on two USA World Championship teams and served on the U.S. Olympic Development Commission for over 30 years.
Simmons, a charter member of the San Jose City Sports Authority, often returns to campus for reunions and hall of fame events. His contributions to Cal Poly athletes go well beyond just performances on the track, assisting many black student-athletes from his sport as well as others in adjusting to life at Cal Poly.
