James Simmons, who served more than 20 years as Athletic Director of Lafayette Parish Schools, has died.
Simmons, who also served as a track coach in Crowley and was inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame, died this past weekend.
Here's a statement from the LHSAA:
The LHSAA is deeply saddened by the passing of James Simmons. For over two decades, James was an integral part of our organization and a tireless advocate for high school athletics across the state. His unwavering dedication to student-athletes and his passion for education and sports left a lasting legacy that will not soon be forgotten.
Throughout his career, James served in numerous roles that reflected his commitment to excellence and service — as an educator, coach, track referee, athletic director, parish athletic director, compliance officer, committee member for the LHSAA Hall of Fame, member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, board member of the LHSADA, and as a proud inductee into the LHSAA Hall of Fame in 2012. Each role he took on was marked by integrity, leadership, and a genuine love for the students he served.
More than his impressive résumé, James was a kind and compassionate person whose presence brought warmth and encouragement to those around him. His absence will be felt deeply within our organization and throughout the athletic community.
On behalf of the LHSAA, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Simmons family, his friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. His impact will continue to shape the lives of countless student-athletes for generations to come. James Simmons will be profoundly missed.
Here's a statement from the Lafayette Parish School System:
The Lafayette Parish School System is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Coach James Simmons, longtime Athletic Director and a beloved figure in our educational and athletic communities.
Coach Simmons dedicated more than three decades of his life to the students and schools of Lafayette Parish, serving as a coach, mentor, leader, and advocate for student-athletes. As Athletic Director, he was known not only for his unwavering commitment to excellence in athletics, but also for the profound care and respect he showed to every student, educator, and colleague he encountered.
“Coach Simmons was the heart of our athletic programs and a true servant leader,” said Superintendent Francis Touchet, Jr. “His legacy will live on in the lives of the countless young people he inspired both on and off the field.”
The Lafayette Parish School System extends its deepest condolences to the Simmons family, his friends, and all who had the honor of knowing and working with him. His impact will be felt for generations to come.
According to a 2012 article on the Ragin Cajuns Athletic Network website that was written when he was inducted into the state hall of fame, Simmons graduated from a high school in New Iberia and Southern University. He served in the U.S. Army, then coached in Baton Rouge, but he wanted to come home. He was hired as a track coach in Crowley, where he coached for more than a decade.
"You’ve got to be excited about what you’re doing. You’ve got to beat the bushes for kids. Saturdays and Sundays, I was always there if kids wanted to work out. When they see how excited you are, that makes it easy for the kids. It’s the little things you do, not the big ones," the article quotes him as saying.
After Crowley, he then moved over to Acadiana High, but applied for the parish athletic director position shortly after arriving - and got the job.
This is a developing story; we'll update it as we have more information.
