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Tyler Simms

Tyler Simms

  • Title
    Head Coach
  • Phone
    (508) 793-7430
  • Email
    tsimms@clarku.edu
  • Alma Mater
    Trinity, 2008
  • Year
    6th Season

Tyler Simms was named Head Coach of the men's basketball program in June of 2019 and is currently in his sixth season during the 2024-25 campaign. Simms has reached three NEWMAC Tournaments in his five seasons he has coached (2022, 2023, 2024).

In the 2023-24 season, Simms brought the Cougars to the NEWMAC Championship following a victory over Emerson in the NEWMAC Semifinals before falling to Babson in the NEWMAC Championship. The team won their most conference games in program history with 13 and reached the 20 win mark for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Isaiah Taylor (First Team), Bruce Saintilus (First Team), and Kekoa McArdle (Second Team) all earned All-NEWMAC honors.

Clark won a NEWMAC Tournament game for the first time since the 2009-10 season in the 2022-23 campaign after topping Wheaton 73-71 in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals. Isaiah Taylor earned All-NEWMAC Second Team honors as the Cougars posted a 15 win season. Taylor was named NEWMAC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference in the 2021-22 season in which Clark also reached the NEWMAC Tournament, hosting MIT in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals.

Simms brings over 10 years of coaching experience to Clark, including his most recent four seasons as the assistant coach of Division I, Ivy League, Brown University basketball program. Prior to Brown Simms served as an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Trinity College basketball team for two years.

Simms helped the Bears finish fourth overall in the Ivy League standings at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season with a 20-12 overall record and 7-7 record in the conference. Brown set several program records during the 2018-19 season including most wins in a season (20), most non-conference wins (13) and its first-ever postseason tournament victory, a first-round win over UAB in the first round of the CBI. Simms was heavily involved in the recruitment and development of Tamenang Choh, who garnered All-Ivy Second Team in 2018-19, as well as Zachary Hunsaker who was honored as a CoSIDA Academic All-American this past season. While at Brown, Simms assisted in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes, contributed to opponent and self-scouting, and enhanced player development through pre and post-season individual workouts. Simms aided in the development of Steven Spieth, who garnered All-Ivy First Team, CoSIDA Academic All-American, and USBWA All-District honors following the 2016-17 season. He was also heavily involved in the recruitment of the Ivy League 2017-18 Rookie of the Year, Desmond Cambridge.

Prior to Brown, Simms served as an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Division III, New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) member, Trinity College from 2013-2015. With his leadership, the Bantams finished first in the NESCAC regular season and advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament in the 2014-2015 season. Simms was instrumental in the development of Trinity's perimeter players, including 2014-15 First-Team All-NESCAC, D3Hoops.com, and ECAC All-Region honoree, Jaquann Starks. While at Trinity, Simms contributed to all aspects of the program, including scouting, player development, and the establishment of the Alumni Mentorship program.

Simms graduated in 2008 from Trinity College with a bachelor's degree in educational studies. He played four years at Trinity and held the position of team captain in 2007-08.

During his career, the Bantams went 79-25 and won the NESCAC tournament championship in 2007-08 for the first time in school history. Simms was named to the NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team during his senior season and also earned the John Kelley Award for "commitment and sacrifice to his teammates and program."

Simms spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Mass. He also held the position of program director for Basketball, LLC, a company that runs AAU and high school events for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Following his stint at Wilbraham and Monson Academy, Simms took on the role as a graduate assistant at Mercyhurst University from 2009-11. In this role, Simms assisted in all aspects of the Mercyhurst program, from on-court coaching, advanced scouting and recruiting, to game preparation and individual player development.

Simms was also the Director of Basketball Operations at Siena College in Albany, N.Y. from 2011-13. He served under head coach Mitch Buonaguro and held responsibilities that included practice and skill development planning, video editing and exchange, and Director of Siena's Team, Day and Elite Camps.


CLARK COACHING RECORD

Season Overall Record NEWMAC Record Postseason
2023-24 20-7 13-3 NEWMAC Runner-Up
2022-23 15-12 6-8 NEWMAC Semifinals
2021-22 18-8 7-7 NEWMAC Quarterfinals
2020-21 0-0 0-0 COVID
2019-20 8-17 3-10 None
Five Seasons 61-44 29-28