B-CU women's basketball coach Francis Simmons resigns

Photo: Former BCU women's basketball head coach Francis Simmons

By: Bethune Cookman University Sports Information

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - After four season at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman University Women's Basketball program, head coach Francis Simmons has decided to resign effective immediately according to B-CU Director of Athletic Lynn W. Thompson. Simmons met with Thompson early Tuesday afternoon to discuss his plans for resignation.

"We are grateful for the work that Coach Simmons has done, and after meeting we both came to the conclusion that new leadership and direction would best serve the program at this time," commented B-CU Director of Athletics, Lynn W. Thompson.

Simmons, a native of Columbia, S.C., took over the program prior to the beginning of the 2004-05 season for now Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at B-CU, Sandra Booker. In his four years guiding the Wildcats, Simmons amassed a record of 22-92 overall, including a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record of 12-58.

The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

BCU Pep Band -Let's Go Wildcats


Please, don't feel bad for Simmons. After four seasons and a career record of 22-92, this firing was long overdue. The BCU student-athletes deserve better coaching and mentoring. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference deserves better performance from its member institutions sports programs.

Coach Simmons receives a retirement pension from the state of South Carolina where he worked for 32 years as a teacher and coach. He also served 17 seasons as an assistant men's basketball coach at South Carolina State University.

Simmons indicated that he has several offers on the table.

One offer is from BCU men's basketball coach Clifford Reed, who has invited coach Simmons to join his staff, as an assistant men's basketball coach. The Wildcat men's team finished 2007 with a 11-21 record. Clifford Reed needs to resign/or be fired, also.

Does Bethune Cookman know how to fire and retire non-performing coaches that continue to perform each year at extremely unacceptable levels?

Obviously not! Dang!

Did you notice how all the poor performing coaches and AAMU president were fired on April 1--(April Fool's Day). This is no joke.

-beepbeep