Former WVU football assistant coach Bob Simmons has died.
Simmons was a member of Hall of Fame Coach Don Nehlen’s original staff in Morgantown–serving as outside linebackers coach from 1980 to 1987. Among those under his tutelage were the great Darryl Talley, who starred with the Buffalo Bills during a 14-year NFL career and Renaldo Turnbull, who played eight seasons in the NFL with the Saints and Panthers.
Simmons went on to coach at Colorado and then in late 1994 became head coach at Oklahoma State where he was the first African American head coach in the history of the Big 8 Conference. Simmons led the Cowboys into the Big 12 Conference. He coached the Cowboys for six seasons including an appearance in the 1997 Alamo Bowl, the first OSU bowl game in nine seasons.
Simmons’ Cowboy teams were particularly good against arch-rival Oklahoma. He went 3-3 against the Sooners including two Bedlam wins in Norman.
Coach Simmons, who played for Coach Nehlen at Bowling Green, died Tuesday at the age of 77.