Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Track & Field
Solomon Simmons
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- ssimmo22@emich.edu
Eastern Michigan University men's track and field Head Coach John Goodridge announced August 9, 2016, that former EMU standout Solomon Simmons has been hired as an Assistant Coach for the Eagles. Simmons will replace former assistant coach Steve Manz, who resigned in mid-July.
"It is with great enthusiasm and optimism that I announce the addition of Solomon Simmons to the EMU Men's Track and Field staff," remarked Goodridge. "I have great confidence in Solomon's potential and ability from day one to be an excellent coach."
Simmons recently closed a fantastic career with the Green and White, earning First Team All-American status at the 2016 Outdoor NCAA Championships by finishing sixth with a program-record 7,936 points. The recent EMU graduate was a four-time Mid-American Conference champion, winning both the heptathlon and the decathlon twice during his final two collegiate seasons.
Simmons regularly broke both the EMU heptathlon and decathlon records throughout his career with the Eagles, as his heptathlon record of 5,608 points also stands as a program-best.
"I have spent much time as a student-athlete at Eastern, and I am excited to stay with the University in this new phase of my life as a coach," explained Simmons. "Track and Field is a passion, and coaching the student-athletes will be a privilege."
In addition to finding success at the NCAA level, Simmons competed at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing sixth in the decathlon against some of the top athletes in the country. Throughout the event, he totaled four top-five finishes, taking fourth in the shot put and discus throw, and fifth in the 110m hurdles and javelin throw. Simmons also represented Team USA at the NACAC U23 Championships in 2014, finsihing second in the decathlon with 6,993 points.
Most recently, Simmons competed for Team USA at the Thorpe Cup, helping the squad to a victory over Germany. Overall, Simmons finished third in the decathlon, totaling 7756 points, which was just 120 behind the first-place finisher. The EMU alumnus had his best finish in the shot put, blowing away his collegiate-best with a throw of 15.40 meters/ 50 feet 6.25-inches.
Not only was Simmons successful athletically, but he also succeeded in the classroom, earning eight Academic All-MAC distinctions throughout his career at Eastern. Additionally, he was selected as a MAC Distinguished Scholar Student-Athlete following his final season donning the Green and White.
The Solomon Simmons File
Name: Solomon Auryan Simmons
High School: Murrieta Valley H.S. - Murrieta, Calif.
College: Eastern Michigan University - Bachelor's degree in finance - 2015
Family: Wife - Macy Houghtlin
Coaching/Playing Experience
Year School Position
2011-16 Eastern Michigan University Student-Athlete
"It is with great enthusiasm and optimism that I announce the addition of Solomon Simmons to the EMU Men's Track and Field staff," remarked Goodridge. "I have great confidence in Solomon's potential and ability from day one to be an excellent coach."
Simmons recently closed a fantastic career with the Green and White, earning First Team All-American status at the 2016 Outdoor NCAA Championships by finishing sixth with a program-record 7,936 points. The recent EMU graduate was a four-time Mid-American Conference champion, winning both the heptathlon and the decathlon twice during his final two collegiate seasons.
Simmons regularly broke both the EMU heptathlon and decathlon records throughout his career with the Eagles, as his heptathlon record of 5,608 points also stands as a program-best.
"I have spent much time as a student-athlete at Eastern, and I am excited to stay with the University in this new phase of my life as a coach," explained Simmons. "Track and Field is a passion, and coaching the student-athletes will be a privilege."
In addition to finding success at the NCAA level, Simmons competed at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing sixth in the decathlon against some of the top athletes in the country. Throughout the event, he totaled four top-five finishes, taking fourth in the shot put and discus throw, and fifth in the 110m hurdles and javelin throw. Simmons also represented Team USA at the NACAC U23 Championships in 2014, finsihing second in the decathlon with 6,993 points.
Most recently, Simmons competed for Team USA at the Thorpe Cup, helping the squad to a victory over Germany. Overall, Simmons finished third in the decathlon, totaling 7756 points, which was just 120 behind the first-place finisher. The EMU alumnus had his best finish in the shot put, blowing away his collegiate-best with a throw of 15.40 meters/ 50 feet 6.25-inches.
Not only was Simmons successful athletically, but he also succeeded in the classroom, earning eight Academic All-MAC distinctions throughout his career at Eastern. Additionally, he was selected as a MAC Distinguished Scholar Student-Athlete following his final season donning the Green and White.
The Solomon Simmons File
Name: Solomon Auryan Simmons
High School: Murrieta Valley H.S. - Murrieta, Calif.
College: Eastern Michigan University - Bachelor's degree in finance - 2015
Family: Wife - Macy Houghtlin
Coaching/Playing Experience
Year School Position
2011-16 Eastern Michigan University Student-Athlete
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