Texas State Athletics

Lew Simmonds was a standout two sport star for the Bobcats in both football and track and field from1962-1965.  A running back on the 1963 Southwest Texas State football team that went undefeated with a perfect 10-0 record, Simmonds was a member of the Lone Star All-Conference team in 1964 and was named captain of the football team in 1965. Simmonds was also a member of the 1964 Lone Star Conference 440 yard relay championship team. Simmonds was President of his junior and senior class, Vice President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and named Gaillardian in 1963. 

Simmonds has been a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association for the past 36 years serving as the Senior Director, By Laws-Committee Chairman and Track Advisory Committee Representative for Region VIII.  He has served in numerous coaching roles, including assistant football coach and track coach at Rockdale High School from 1973-1979.  While at Rockdale he helped coach two bi-district teams, two quarter finals teams, and one state champion football team.  In addition, the Tigers won 7 straight district championships, one regional championship, and one state championship in track during his tenure. 

After his stint in Rockdale, Simmonds was both an assistant and head football coach, and head track coach at New Braunfels High School. As an assistant coach from 1980 through 1989, the Unicorns were the winningest 4A football team in Texas.   As head coach from 1990-1995, he led the Unicorns to a bi-district championship in 1991 and district championship in 1992. During his time as head track coach the Unicorns won several district track championships, and in 1987 won the Region IV track championship. Simmonds was named Comal County Coach of the Year 1992. 

He is a former member of the New Braunfels Rotary Club, former President of the Comal County Emergency Children’s Shelter, former business department chairman at New Braunfels High School, is a member of the Oakwood Baptist Church and sponsor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  In 2007, Simmonds was awarded the Silver Unicorn Award, which is the highest award given by the New Braunfels Independent School District for distinguished service to the boys and girls of New Braunfels.

Simmonds is currently retired as a coach and teacher and works part-time as an onsite coordinator for Staff Development for Educators, a company that provides seminars, conferences and training for teachers and administrators across the nation.