Steve Simmons leaves Huskies, Returns to Oregon

Steve Simmons put himself on the national radar by turning a downtrodden Huskies team into MAC champions. Today he took a job at a familiar institution as the head coach at Oregon State.

"With the opportunity at Oregon State, there were just too many compelling points that made it the perfect match for me and my family, " Simmons said. "And it was going to take something like that to leave NIU, because of the sweat, equity, and the people here that I've come to love and respect."

Simmons leaves the huskies after six season and a career record of, 59-47-13, A MAC regular season title, a MAC Tournament Title and a first round victory in the NCAA Men's tournament. In his six year tenure Northern Illinois finished second or better four times.

In 2006 season Simmons was recognized as the Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He has also twice been named the MAC Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year (2004, 2006).

Simmons began his coaching career as an assistant at Gonzaga University in 1994 and gained his first head coaching post the following summer at Whitworth College (Division III). In his first year a 9-8-2 record earned him Northwest Conference Coach of the Year honors and led to his move to Linfield. With the Wildcats, he gained his second NWC Coach of the Year plaque in 2000. Between Linfield and Whitworth, Simmons compiled a head coaching record of 67-49-5 (.574).

Before taking over at NIU, Simmons spent two seasons as associate head coach for Oregon State, where he worked with defenders and goalkeepers under former Beaver coach Dana Taylor. His teaching was evident in 2002 when OSU climbed to No. 18 in the national polls during a nine-week run in the top-25. Oregon State earned its first trip to the NCAA College Cup as part of a 13-8-0 campaign that was highlighted by victories over No. 6-rated California and No. 12 Tulsa.

Simmons will take over responsibilities at Oregon State immeadatly leaving NIU with some rather large shoes to fill.