Providence College men’s basketball Head Coach Ed Cooley announced today (Aug. 13) that Bob Simon has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. Simon has served as an assistant coach for the last three years at Providence College and has worked with Cooley for the past eight seasons.
"I am very happy that we are able to reward Bob with this promotion," Cooley said. "Bob has done a great job coaching, recruiting, mentoring and promoting our program over the last three years. This is another step in his growth as he will be a tremendous head coach someday."
During his three seasons at Providence, Simon has helped the Friars reach the NIT Quarterfinals (2013), capture the BIG EAST Championship (2014) and advance to the NCAA Tournament (2014). The team has recorded a 57-44 mark during those three years, including a 23-12 record in 2013-14. He also has been instrumental in helping recruit two top-25 recruiting classes in the last three years.
Prior to coming to Providence, Simon worked for five seasons as an associate head coach for Ed Cooley at Fairfield. Simon helped lead the Stags resurgence as the team posted a 92-69 record (.571) overall and a 58-32 mark (.578) in MAAC action. The 92 wins were the most ever at Fairfield over a five-year span. In 2009-10, the team reached the post-season after recording a 23-11 record. It was the Stags’ first post-season appearance since 2003. The following season, Fairfield reached new heights as the squad captured the MAAC regular-season title and advanced to the second round of the NIT. In advancing to the second round of the NIT, Fairfield won at Colorado State to earn the team’s first NIT victory in almost 40 years. The 2011 Fairfield Stags registered a school-record 25 wins and finished second in the nation for scoring defense, allowing just 57.8 points per game. By recording a 25-8 record in 2011, the team posted consecutive seasons with 20 or more victories for the first time in the history of the program.
Before Fairfield, Simon spent six years at the University of Toledo, including three years as the associate head coach. The Rockets posted three 20-win seasons and captured two NIT berths (2001, 2004) during his time at Toledo. At Toledo, Simon’s duties included scouting, coordinating an academic program, overseeing summer camps, and on-floor coaching. He was also the program’s lead recruiter during his tenure.
Simon began his collegiate coaching career at Wayne State University, spending nearly a decade with the Warriors. He coached the men’s team for eight seasons – five seasons as an associate head coach and three seasons as an assistant coach. During this time, Wayne State posted eight straight winning seasons, and reached the Division II Final Four in 1993. The Warriors captured three conference titles and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the Sweet 16.
After eight seasons with the men’s program, Simon accepted a new challenge when he became the head women’s basketball coach at Wayne State. In his one season with the women’s team, Simon turned the program around by posting 13 wins. The team earned a conference tournament berth for the second time in history. Simon began his coaching career in the high school ranks where he gained 10 years of experience. He coached at Thurston High School in Redford, Mich., for six years and he was the varsity head coach for four years at Anderson High School in Southgate, Mich.
Simon received his bachelor’s degree in manufacturing technology from Eastern Michigan University in 1989, and his master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 1997. Simon and his wife Donna have a daughter, Bobbie, and a son, Devin.
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