Paul Simmons
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamHarding
ConferenceGAC
Record65–13
Playing career
1991–1994Harding
Position(s)Linebacker, defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1998–2005Harding Academy (TN)
2006–2009Harding (DL)
2010–2016Harding (DC)
2017–presentHarding
Head coaching record
Overall65–13 (college)
51–38 (high school)
Tournaments8–4 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NCAA Division II (2023)
2 GAC (2021, 2023)

Paul Simmons is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas; a position he has held since 2017. He has won Great American Conference championships in 2021, 2023, reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs in 2017, and won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2023.[1]

As a player for Harding, Simmons was a three-time first-team All-American linebacker and defensive end. He was inducted into the Harding Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999. Simmons played high school football for the Ashdown High School Panthers in Ashdown, Arkansas from 1988 to 1990.

Simmons joined Harding as an assistant coach in 2006, and became the Defensive Coordinator in 2010. Before coming to Harding, Simmons was a high school head coach in Memphis.

In 2023, Simmons coached his Harding Bisons to a NCAA Division II national championship, finishing undefeated at 15–0. That team became the first to ever rush for over 6,000 yards in a single season in NCAA history. [2]

Simmons son, Wyatt, a linebacker at Harding Academy High School in Searcy, has committed to play college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks over offers from schools such as Auburn, Clemson, and Florida State. [3]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs AFCA# D2°
Harding Bisons (Great American Conference) (2017–present)
2017 Harding 11–48–3T–2ndL NCAA Division II Semifinal6
2018 Harding 9–39–22ndL NCAA Division II First Round20
2019 Harding 10–210–12ndL NCAA Division II First Round15
2020 No season
2021 Harding 11–210–11stL NCAA Division II Second Round10
2022 Harding 9–29–22nd22
2023 Harding 15–011–01stW NCAA Division II Championship11
2024 Harding 0–00–0
Harding: 65–1352–9
Total:65–13
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #NCAA Division II AFCA poll.

References

  1. "Paul Simmons - Football Coach". Harding University Athletics.
  2. https://katv.com/sports/content/harding-university-wins-division-ii-championship-beats-colorado-college-of-mines-38-7-mckinney-texas-ncaa-football-searcy-arkansas-bison-bisons-victory-won-win-undefeated-paul-simmons-orediggers-
  3. https://www.kait8.com/video/2023/12/12/harding-hc-paul-simmons-son-wyatt-reflect-special-saturday-searcy/


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