Simmons, a Brookings, S.D., native, joins the USF Women’s Basketball staff for the 2016-17 season after a successful playing career at the University of Missouri and University of Illinois, earning a bachelor’s degree in food science and nutrition in 2016. She lived in Sioux City, Iowa, and Red Oak, Iowa before graduating from Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
As a 5-7 guard, Simmons averaged 12.3 points, 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game for the University of Illinois last season. A starter in all of the Illini’s 30 games, she averaged 2.6 three pointers per game and 77 overall as she ranked fifth in the Big Ten and in the top-50 nationally. Recipient of the 2015 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, she was also named to the 2012 Big 12 All-Freshman Team and earned the 2012 Big 12 Freshman of the Week honor. At Missouri, she was the only Tiger to start all 31 games and led the team with 111 assists.
In high school, Simmons set Lewis Central High School records for career assists (458), season points (380) and assists (16) along with single game points (34) and assists (14). She finished her career third all-time at Lewis Central in career steals (312) and career points (1,042). She was named to the Iowa Girls Coach Association All State Team as well as All-District team from 2009-11.
