Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Tommy Simmons was a four-year letterwinner in football and baseball while at Lenoir-Rhyne College.  He was a member of the school's 1960 NAIA National Championship Team which went 11-0-1.  He also helped the Bears to four North State Conference Titles.  As a sophomore, Simmons rushed for 600 yards on 100 carries.  He had 17 interceptions during his junior and senior seasons, including one coming on the final play of the game to preserve the Bears' 15-14 victory over Humboldt State in the 1960 National Championship game.  He was voted the best defensive player and best blocker by his teammates in 1960.  After graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne in 1961 with a degree in physical education, he spend three seasons as track coach and assistant football coach at Pensacola (Fla.) High School.  Then, it was back to North Carolina to become assistant football coach and, later, head football coach at St. Stephens High School.  Four years later, he moved on to assume the positions of head football coach and athletics director at neighboring Newton-Conover High School:  positions which he held for another three years.  He then left coaching to work in the sporting goods business.  In 1988, Simmons started his own business - Athletic Reconditioning.