BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana baseball head coach Jeff Mercer has announced the hire of Derek Simmons as the program’s new assistant coach. Simmons, who will work with hitters, infielders and handle baserunning, replaces Casey Dykes who recently took a hitting instructor role with the New York Yankees organization.
“Derek and I have been good friends for 10 years,” Mercer remarked. “I’ve always admired and respected his work ethic and baseball acumen. He’s a man of the highest integrity and shares our passion for player development. Derek has been extremely successful everywhere he’s been and we’re fortunate to have him and his family joining Indiana Baseball.”
Simmons comes to Indiana from Kent State, where he was an assistant coach since 2017. He worked closely with position players and hitters, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator. Entering the 2018-19 school year, Kent State’s incoming freshman class was ranked 25th nationally, according to Collegiate Baseball.
In addition to aiding Kent State to a MAC regular season and tournament title in 2018, Simmons had two outfielders named to the All-MAC First Team and three position players named to the All-MAC Second Team. Tim DalPorto was also a semi-finalist for the Johnny Bench Award.
“I would like to thank Jeff Mercer and Indiana University for giving me this incredible opportunity to be a part of Hoosier baseball,” said Simmons. “Indiana University is without a doubt the flagship school in this state with a national brand baseball program. For me, leaving a program like Kent State and the people over there, it had to be a once in a lifetime opportunity and Indiana provides that. I am so fortunate to be here and my wife, Erin, my two kids, Bella and Braxton, and myself are fired up about being here Bloomington! I can’t wait to get going and help continue to develop these players and get back to Omaha.”
Prior to his time with the Golden Flashes, Simmons was at Alabama, where he was an assistant coach during the 2016 season. With the Crimson Tide, he oversaw the infielders, assisted with the hitters, coached first base, was the camp coordinator, on-campus recruiter, and was the academic liaison. Alabama’s infielders led the SEC with 50 double plays.
Prior to Alabama, Simmons coached for four seasons at Kennesaw State, helping grab the program’s first regular season Atlantic Sun championship in 2016, a Super Regional appearance, and the first conference tournament championship in program history in 2014.
With Simmons on staff, the Owls went 127-82 overall and 57-37 in conference play. He helped mentor five All-Americans, 31 all-ASUN honorees, and had 16 players selected in the MLB Draft, including a first-rounder. With the Owls, Simmons oversaw the team’s hitting, recruiting, administrative duties, academics, and camps.
Under the guidance of Simmons, the Owls batted .294 as a team and ranked fourth all-time in program history for a single season, propelling Kennesaw State to a 17-4 mark in conference play in 2016. The Owls totaled 85 doubles, 12 triples, and 40 home runs, leading to the team’s first regular season ASUN title in program history.
Simmons played a key role for Kennesaw State’s historic run in 2014, in which the team won its first ever Atlantic Sun Conference Championship as well as the NCAA Division I Tallahassee Regional. The Owls finished the season third in the nation in total hits (677) and 18thin batting average (.297).
Prior to KSU, Simmons was the hitting coach and volunteer assistant coach at Central Michigan from August 2010 to July 2012, helping the Chippewas claim a 2011 MAC West title and place seven student-athletes on the All-MAC team.
Simmons has been a part of USA Baseball’s Tournament of Stars since 2012, and was named assistant coach for Team USA’s 14u National Team Development Program in 2018.
Simmons started his playing career at the University of Montevallo, qualifying for the Division II College World Series in 2006. After earning two letters there, he went on to be a two-year letter winner and captain at Georgia State. He earned first team all-conference accolades, becoming the first player in Georgia State history to be a first-team honoree twice. He finished his career ranked in the top ten in numerous single season categories, including home runs, runs scored, and RBI while posting a .344 career batting average for the Panthers.
Simmons played one season in independent baseball before entering the coaching profession. He and his wife, Erin, have two children, Bella and Braxton.
