Justin Simon, the only person to win an Ivy League men’s basketball championship at Yale as both a player and a coach, has been promoted to associate head coach. Simon, a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs in the early 2000s, joined James Jones‘ coaching staff as an assistant in 2011.
 
Simon has been on staff during the most successful era in the long history of Yale Basketball. The Bulldogs have posted a remarkable 110-44 (.714) Ivy League record, earned seven postseason appearances, including notching the first NCAA Tournament victory in school history in 2016, won five Ivy League regular season championships and two Ivy League Tournament titles in his tenure.
 
In addition, Yale has won 20 or more games five times since Simon joined the staff, including in 2022-23 when the Bulldogs finished 21-9, captured the Ivy regular season crown and were selected to the postseason National Invitation Tournament. In the 2021-22 season, Yale captured the Ivy Tournament, earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season.
 
Simon helped Yale to 23 victories in 2019-20, tying the 2015-16 team for the most in the modern era of Yale Basketball, and an Ivy League championship. The Bulldogs were set to play in the NCAA Tournament before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat.
 
Yale won the Ivy regular season and tournament titles in 2018-19, while posting a 22-8 overall record. In the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs nearly upset third-seeded LSU.
 
Simon played a key role in a memorable 2015-16 season as well when Yale won 23 games, captured a second straight Ivy League title with a 13-1 record, matching the 1961-62 team for the best in school history, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 54 years where the Bulldogs upset Baylor.
 
Simon’s primary responsibilities include recruiting, opponent scouting and post player development. 
 
During his tenure at Yale, Simon has worked with All-Ivy post players Greg Mangano ’12, two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Justin Sears ’16, Jordan Bruner, a first team All-Ivy selection in 2020, Paul Atkinson ’21, the 2020 Ivy League Player of the Year, Matt Knowling ’24, who was named All-Ivy first team in 2023, and EJ Jarvis ’23, who earned second team recognition in 2023.  Under Simon’s guidance, Yale has been one of the best teams in the nation in free throw rate, rebounding and team defense. 
 
Simon has been intimately involved with every Yale postseason appearance in the modern era, including the 2016 NCAA Tournament victory over Baylor.  Simon has also been present for all six of the 20-win seasons Yale has had during James Jones‘ tenure – one as a player and five as an assistant coach. 
 
Prior to returning to Yale, Simon spent time as science teacher and coach at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, as well as time working in the financial services industry.
 
As a player at Yale, Simon was part of Jones’ first recruiting class, and in 2002, was a member of Yale’s first Ivy League championship team since 1963.  He was also the recipient of the Senior Class and top free throw shooter awards during his tenure. 

https://yalebulldogs.com/news/2023/7/3/mens-basketball-simon-promoted-to-associate-head-coach.aspx