Bob Simmons: A Life in College Football
Bob Simmons, the longtime Oklahoma State football coach who guided the Cowboys through a pivotal conference realignment, died this week at the age of 77.
A former player at Bowling Green from 1968 to 1970, Simmons launched his coaching journey in 1976 back at his alma mater before moving on to stints at Toledo and West Virginia.
Early Coaching Roots
His reputation grew during eight years at West Virginia, after which he served as an assistant to Bill McCartney at Colorado, helping the Buffaloes secure a national championship.
The Big 12 Transition
In 1995 Simmons was hired as head coach at Oklahoma State, a program transitioning from the Big 8 to the newly formed Big 12 Conference.
A Season to Remember
His first season ended 4‑8 overall and 2‑5 in conference, but the following year he posted an 8‑4 record, a 5‑3 mark in league play, and earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors.
The Cowboys finished the 1997 season ranked No. 24 in the final AP Top 25, a high point that underscored the program’s rapid rise.
Despite the initial success, his win‑loss record gradually slipped, leading to his exit from Oklahoma State and a series of later coaching positions at Notre Dame, the University of Washington, and Boulder High School.
Across 68 games as a head coach at Oklahoma State, Simmons compiled a 30‑38 record, a statistic that reflects both the challenges of rebuilding a program and the moments of promise he delivered.