Roy Simmons III - Men's Lacrosse Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Roy Simmons III

Title:
Director of Operations
Email:
rdsimmon@syr.edu
Phone:
4620

Roy Simmons III is in his 31st season as a member of the Syracuse coaching staff. During his career, Simmons has handled various coaching responsibilities and now serves as the team’s director of operations.

Simmons manages administrative duties involving compliance, player development, scheduling and academics. He is heavily involved in the development of the Syracuse Lacrosse Alumni Network (SLAN) and puts on programming to develop members of the program off the field as well. Prior to his current position, he was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2008 and 2009, engineering a high-powered attack that helped the squad win consecutive NCAA titles.

Simmons assumed the role of offensive coordinator after 2007 and crafted the nation’s second-highest scoring offense (13.6 goals per game) in 2008. As an encore, the 2009 Orange ranked second nationally again in scoring offense (12.94 goals per game) and second in points per game (20.39). Syracuse brought home the NCAA championship trophy both years. For Simmons, they were his seventh and eighth championships as a member of the Orange coaching staff.

The Orange scored at least 10 goals in 16 of its 18 games in 2008, including two 20-goal performances. The squad put up 245 goals and boasted seven 20-goal scorers, the most for an SU squad since 1985. In 2009, the team’s offensive surge continued as SU tallied 233 goals, including 16 more 10-goal games and a 22-goal showing in its season-opening win against Providence.

In addition to the team’s success, Simmons’ instruction helped produce some of the finest individual performances in program history. In 2008, he mentored Mike Leveille, who scored 83 points, including 49 goals, on his way to earning first-team All-America honors and the Tewaaraton Award as national player of the year. Simmons also helped develop first-team All-American and 2008 USILA Midfielder of the Year Steven Brooks, and his offensive schemes paved the way for attackman Kenny Nims and midfielders Dan Hardy and Matt Abbott to earn 2008 All-America recognition.

The following season, Nims, Abbott and Hardy repeated as All-Americans with Nims and Abbott receiving first-team honors. Nims finished the year second nationally in points per game (4.11) and fourth in assists per contest (2.33).

Another player that benefitted from Simmons’ guidance in 2009 was Stephen Keogh. Keogh had a breakout year, scoring 49 goals on his way to an honorable mention All-America nod.

Prior to working with the Orange offense, Simmons was the architect of the team’s formidable defense for nine years. He was instrumental in devising defensive schemes that shut down the opposing team’s offensive attack and forced them into making mistakes. As defensive coordinator, he created the backbone of three national championship teams (2000, 2002, 2004) and aided in the development of some of the nation’s top defenders,including 2000 Schmeisser Award winner Marshall Abrams and 2002 Schmeisser Award recipient John Glatzel. Simmons coached 10 defensive All-Americans from 1999-07, including Abrams, Glatzel, Josh Ruhle, Joe Ceglia, Rob Mulligan, Billy St. George, Solomon Bliss, Scott Ditzell, Jay Pfeifer and Steve Panarelli.

In 2001, Syracuse finished eighth in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 8.0 goals per game. At the time, it was the lowest goals-against average for an Orange defense since 1988.

SU lacrosse is in “Simmie’s” blood. He returned to the program for his third stint as an assistant coach when John Desko took the head coaching reins in 1999. Previously, Simmons coached under his father, Roy Simmons Jr., from 1982-86 and 1989-92.

Simmons rejoined the Syracuse staff after working in the Baldwinsville Central School District, where he served as a high school coach and secondary school guidance counselor for three years. Simmons also worked in the Jamesville-DeWitt School District as a coach and counselor.

Prior to his work at the high school level, Simmons was the head lacrosse coach and a residence hall director at Keuka College from 1986-88 and helped found the school’s lacrosse program.

A 1985 Syracuse University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Simmons received his master’s degree in counselor education from SU in 1992. As a player, he lettered in lacrosse under his father from 1978-81 and played in two NCAA Tournaments.

Simmons came to SU from Fayetteville-Manlius High School where he was an all-county attackman and served as lacrosse team captain as a junior and senior.

He and his wife, Eileen, live in Fayetteville. They have two sons, Roy IV and Ryan. Ryan Simmons continued the family legacy, spending five seasons with the Orange program before graduating in 2018 after serving as a team captain. Roy Simmons IV attended Hartwick where he also played lacrosse. He now coaches at Manlius Pebble Hill High School.