A Life of Firsts and Challenges
Bob Simmons, who became the first Black head coach in Oklahoma State University football history, died this week at the age of 77. His passing was confirmed by family members, who also mourned the loss of his son Nathan, a former Oklahoma State tailback who was killed in a hit‑and‑run accident in Westminster, Colorado, last year.
Simmons steered the Cowboys from 1995 through 2000, compiling a record of 30 wins and 38 defeats. In 1997 he earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors after guiding the team to the Alamo Bowl and delivering the program’s first major bowl appearance in decades.
The highlight of his tenure came against the rival Oklahoma Sooners, a team he defeated three times, most decisively in 1995 with a 12‑0 shutout that still ranks among the most dominant performances in the series history.
During his six seasons he recruited and developed five All‑Americans, among them cornerback R.W. McQuarters, who went on to a successful NFL career. The coaching staff he assembled at OSU laid groundwork that would later influence programs at Notre Dame and the University of Washington, where he later served as an assistant.
After leaving Stillwater, Simmons spent three years as an assistant at Notre Dame before returning to the collegiate ranks at the University of Washington. In 2013 he took a position at Boulder High School in Colorado, where he continued to mentor young athletes until 2015.
The Simmons family’s story took a tragic turn when Nathan Simmons, a promising tailback and son of the coach, was killed in a hit‑and‑run collision in Westminster. The incident shocked the local community and underscored the fragile nature of life beyond the field.
Bob Simmons is remembered not only for breaking barriers as the first Black head coach at OSU, but also for his relentless competitiveness, his ability to inspire players like R.W. McQuarters, and his lasting impact on the coaches who followed in his footsteps.