Truman State University Athletics

"Hi" Simmons came to the campus from Lancaster, Mo., in the late 1920's. He became a three-sport standout in football, basketball and track. Mr. Simmons was a halfback on the Bulldog football team, a center on the basketball team earning All-Conference honors and serving as captain in 1927-28 and participated in the quarter mile and on relay teams in track. After graduating in 1928, he served as a school principal and athletic coach at Mountain Grove, Mo. He then joined the University of Missouri Athletic staff in 1935 as a freshman football and basketball coach and head baseball coach. Mr. Simmons career as Mizzou baseball coach spanned a period of 34 years during which time the Tigers compiled a record of 481-284, won 11 conference championships and made six trips to the College World Series in which they won the national title in 1954 and finished second three times. Between 1952-72, ten of his players earned All-American accolades and seven played in the major leagues. Mr. Simmons also served as chief football scout while Don Faurot, his old college coach, was head football coach at Mizzou. He was very adept at sprinkling colorful humor and wit into his scouting reports about Tiger opponents. Mr. Simmons retired after the 1972 baseball season and was inducted the following year into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1974, the Missouri baseball facility was renamed John "Hi" Simmons Field in his honor. In 1977, he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He has received numerous Coach of the Year awards and was a recipient of the Helms Athletic Foundation award. Mr. Simmons served as president of the American Baseball Coaches Association.