Cal Poly Hall of Famer, Iconic Track Coach Steve Simmons Passes Away at 82
6/26/2026 10:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Steve Simmons, a Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Famer and an important figure in the development of track and field in the U.S., passed away earlier this month at the age of 82.
Simmons, known by some as the Godfather of track and field for his positive impact on the sport behind the scenes, served as the men’s track and field coach at Cal Poly from 1971-75. He produced four Division I national champions during his time leading the Mustangs as Reynaldo Brown won the outdoor high jump in 1971 and 1973, and Mohinder Gill swept the indoor and outdoor triple jump national titles in 1971.
In total, 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. He guided the Mustangs to a NCAA Division II runner-up finish in 1971, and third-place finishes in both 1974 and 1975. Clancy Edwards (3), Reynaldo Brown (2), Dave Hamer (2) and Mohinder Gill (1) all won Division II national titles under Simmons’ leadership.
Inducted into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003, Simmons was born on August 1, 1943, in Junction City, Kansas. He was a talented hurdler at Dayton Roosevelt High School in Ohio and started his college career at Los Angeles City College before transferring to Chapman College in Orange, Calif., where he earned All-American honors in the 120-yard hurdles and set multiple school records.
Prior to Cal Poly, Simmons served as an assistant coach at Chapman from 1966-70. Following his time in San Luis Obispo, he served as the head coach at Oregon State from 1976-79, where he mentored five All-Americans, three Olympians and helped Kasheef Hassan capture the NCAA men’s 400-meter title in 1979. Simmons left collegiate coaching in 1979 but remained involved at the national and international level as a coach and manager for the U.S. at numerous regional and global events, serving as Team Leader of the 1992 USA Olympic Track and Field Team and an assistant manager of U.S. Olympic teams in 1980 and 1984.
Simmons was the team leader and coach for two U.S. World Championship teams as well, and served on the U.S. Olympic Development Commission for over 30 years.
One of the most respected mentors in the sport, Simmons’ contributions to Cal Poly and the athletes he coached go well beyond performances on the track as he assisted many black student-athletes in adjusting to life in college, built up younger coaches, aided former athletes in remaining involved in the sport and helped legendary teams gain recognition at the Olympic level.
Simmons is survived by his wife of 58 years, Donna, his daughter, Catherine, his son, Peter, and his grandchildren.
