Tom Simmons

Bio

Tom Simmons is starting his 27th year as director of athletics at Ohio Northern University. 

Simmons is an Ohio Northern graduate, with the BSBA degree in Business Administration (’85) and the BA degree in Sport Management (’86). He earned the MS degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 1987.

In Simmons' time at Ohio Northern, the Polar Bears have accomplished quite a bit on and off the field. Since his appointment in August of 1999, Northern boasts 162 OAC championships, 205 All-Americans and 73 Academic All-Americans across all 26 sports. 

He has a strong background in sports administration and promotions in professional baseball. Simmons served as General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Class A minor league affiliate in Vero Beach, Florida from 1987-1997. He also was in charge of stadium operations for Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training games and served as the Dodgers’ Minor League Equipment Coordinator during that time. 

Mr. Simmons served as the General Manager of the San Diego Padres Class AA affiliate in Mobile, AL in 1998 and 1999. He received the 1998 Southern League Community Relations Award. He was named the 1991 Florida State League Executive of the Year and was inducted into the Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2015.

Simmons is a native of Ada. He is married to Julie Markley, a 1988 graduate of ONU and a 4-year letter winner in women’s basketball and one letter in cross country. They have two children, Tyler (BS ’18) and Lindsay Conley (BSBA '16), son-in-law Austin Conley (ONU 2014 Mechanical Engineering) grandson, Beckham and granddaughter, Sawyer.