Oklahoma State University Athletics
Tony Lindsay & Bob Simmons
The Legacy Of Bob Simmons Lives On
June 10, 2026 | Cowboy Football
Oklahoma State and the Big 12 Conference lost a groundbreaking figure on Tuesday with the passing of former Cowboy head football coach Bob Simmons.
Simmons was introduced as OSU's 20th head coach on Dec. 16, 1994, becoming the first African American head football coach in the history of the Big Eight Conference. His first season at OSU was the last of the Big Eight Conference and his second year launched the Big 12 era.
In Simmons' six seasons at the helm of the program, he led OSU back into the postseason with an appearance in the 1997 Alamo Bowl. The game against Purdue ended a nine-season bowl drought for the Cowboys, and that squad's eight wins were the most for the program since the 1988 team won 10 games.
Simmons also ended Oklahoma State's Bedlam streak of 19 seasons without a win against its state rival. Simmons went 3-3 against Oklahoma, including a 12-0 victory in his first season. Two of his Bedlam wins came in Norman, and his squads won back-to-back games against the Sooners in 1997 and 1998 by a combined score of 71-33.
"Coach Simmons was a fair and fatherly coach," said Cowboy All-American R.W. McQuarters. "He took over an OSU program that had struggled in previous years, but in his first year his recruiting class was amazing. We had no problem beating OU during his career. He will be missed and always loved, as will his family."
"He was a phenomenal evaluator of talent," said Gary Calcagno, who has been a member of the OSU strength and conditioning staff since 2000. "He was also extremely good at assessing coaching talent."
The first coaching staff Simmons assembled included future Cowboy head coaches Les Miles and Mike Gundy. Later in his tenure he hired Rob Ryan as a co-defensive coordinator.
Simmons recruited and/or coached some of the greatest names in OSU history, including All-Americans Alonzo Mayes, Sam Mayes, McQuarters, Kevin Williams and Rashaun Woods. His 1997 team included eight players who would be All-Big 12 selections.
"Coach Simmons created a pathway of greatness for Oklahoma State and the student-athletes who came through the program during his era," said former Cowboy linebacker and staff member Kenyatta Wright. "The culture he established set a standard of excellence that will impact generations of Cowboys. My heart and thoughts go out to the Simmons family and all of the players he impacted."
Nathan Simmons, the son of Bob Simmons, was a Cowboy running back, who died in an accident last year.
Â
Simmons was introduced as OSU's 20th head coach on Dec. 16, 1994, becoming the first African American head football coach in the history of the Big Eight Conference. His first season at OSU was the last of the Big Eight Conference and his second year launched the Big 12 era.
In Simmons' six seasons at the helm of the program, he led OSU back into the postseason with an appearance in the 1997 Alamo Bowl. The game against Purdue ended a nine-season bowl drought for the Cowboys, and that squad's eight wins were the most for the program since the 1988 team won 10 games.
Simmons also ended Oklahoma State's Bedlam streak of 19 seasons without a win against its state rival. Simmons went 3-3 against Oklahoma, including a 12-0 victory in his first season. Two of his Bedlam wins came in Norman, and his squads won back-to-back games against the Sooners in 1997 and 1998 by a combined score of 71-33.
"Coach Simmons was a fair and fatherly coach," said Cowboy All-American R.W. McQuarters. "He took over an OSU program that had struggled in previous years, but in his first year his recruiting class was amazing. We had no problem beating OU during his career. He will be missed and always loved, as will his family."
"He was a phenomenal evaluator of talent," said Gary Calcagno, who has been a member of the OSU strength and conditioning staff since 2000. "He was also extremely good at assessing coaching talent."
The first coaching staff Simmons assembled included future Cowboy head coaches Les Miles and Mike Gundy. Later in his tenure he hired Rob Ryan as a co-defensive coordinator.
Simmons recruited and/or coached some of the greatest names in OSU history, including All-Americans Alonzo Mayes, Sam Mayes, McQuarters, Kevin Williams and Rashaun Woods. His 1997 team included eight players who would be All-Big 12 selections.
"Coach Simmons created a pathway of greatness for Oklahoma State and the student-athletes who came through the program during his era," said former Cowboy linebacker and staff member Kenyatta Wright. "The culture he established set a standard of excellence that will impact generations of Cowboys. My heart and thoughts go out to the Simmons family and all of the players he impacted."
Nathan Simmons, the son of Bob Simmons, was a Cowboy running back, who died in an accident last year.
Â
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
