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Al Simmons returns for his second season at Arizona State. Simmons will oversee the cornerbacks as well as handle special teams with Jamie Christian.
Simmons' diverse background includes coaching experience at both the collegiate and professional levels. He has seven previous seasons of Division I coaching experience, including three at California (1998-2000), two at Oregon State (2001 and 2002) and one at San Jose State (2005). In addition, he has also served under Dennis Erickson with the San Francisco 49ers for two seasons and has participated in the National Football League's Minority Fellowship Coaching program in 1993 with the Oakland Raiders, in 1996 with the Arizona Cardinals, in 1999 with the San Diego Chargers and in 2000 with the Dallas Cowboys.
Simmons came to ASU from San Jose State where he served as cornerbacks coach under head coach Dick Tomey. At San Jose State, Simmons was responsible for developing the cornerbacks, assisting in the weekly game plans and assisting in the planning of the team's daily practices. Last season, one of Simmons' pupils, senior CB Trestin George, was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference's Second-Team after a season in which he intercepted three passes, recorded 48 tackles and broke up seven passes.
With Erickson at San Francisco, Simmons served as Cornerbacks Coach before being moved up to Secondary Coach his second season. In his first season with the 49ers, Simmons worked under former Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora, who was the Defensive Coordinator in San Francisco in 2003. In 2003, the 49ers defense recorded 36 takeaways, their most since 1997.
Simmons was also a part of Erickson's staff at Oregon State where he served as Secondary Coach for two seasons. While in Corvallis, Simmons coached All-American CB Dennis Weathersby. In 2002, Simmons' input helped Oregon State lead the Pacific-10 Conference in passing defense.
Before joining Erickson at Oregon State, Simmons coached the cornerbacks at California for three seasons (1998-2000). At Cal, he mentored the transformation of one-time tailback Deltha O'Neal into an All-America defensive back. O'Neal would later be the first cornerback selected in the 2000 National Football League draft.
Simmons is a native of the Bay Area who attended Cal State Hayward, serving as defensive coordinator and secondary/linebacker coach there from 1986-93. In 1992, his team finished No. 1 in the conference in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense.
In 1994, Simmons moved over to San Francisco State as defensive coordinator and secondary coach, helping the Gators place second in their conference in total defense, pass defense, turnovers created and scoring defense.
Simmons left the Bay Area in February 1995 to become secondary coach at Montana State for two seasons. While he was there, Montana State finished second in the Big Sky Conference in pass efficiency defense in both 1995 and `96. He also served as defensive coordinator at Idaho State in 1997.
As a player, Simmons was a two-time first team All-NorCal Conference selection as a strong safety at Cal State Hayward, where he played in 1983 and `84.
Simmons graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1987 and earned a master's degree in physical education in 1991, both from Cal State Hayward.
