University of Memphis Athletics
Women's Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Women's Coach
- Email:
- Simonin1@memphis.edu
- Phone:
- 901-678-2598
Lizzy Simonin returned to her alma mater in 2014 as an assistant women’s soccer coach on head coach Brooks Monaghan’s staff. Between her stints as a player and coach, Simonin has played a part in eight conference championships and eight of the Tigers’ nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
In Simonin's seven seasons on staff, she has developed four All-Americans, eight conference Players of the Year honorees, 33 All-Conference selections and 11 All-Rookie Team members.
Additionally, under Simonin’s guidance the Tigers women’s soccer team earned a No. 2 ranking for community service for all NCAA Division I women’s soccer programs in 2016-17. The Tigers were recognized for their work with St. Jude, the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Youth Villages among many others.
In February of 2020, Simonin was inducted into the University of Memphis' M Club Hall of Fame. Simonin was a part of a nine-inductee cohort which included five former UofM student-athletes and four award winners who have served the university's athletic department. Additionally, Simonin joined Christy Caswell (1995-98) and Jodi Fisher (1995-98) as the third Memphis women's soccer alumna inducted into the institution's Hall of Fame.
A two-year Tigers captain, Simonin helped the Memphis program rise to national prominence in 2011. That season, Simonin was an All-America First-Team selection, as the Lady Tigers climbed to as high as No. 3 in national polls. Memphis finished with a 22-1-1 record and ranked No. 9 in the final polls.
An exemplary student-athlete, Simonin earned the 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, as recognizing her achievements and loyalty to the University of Memphis. Simonin, the two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, was a Dean’s List honoree each semester as an undergraduate and earned Academic All-America honors in 2010 and 2011.
Simonin, the 2008 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, began her career as a forward, but injuries helped pave a move to defender for the final two years of her career. The Lee’s Summit, Mo., native finished her career with 22 goals and 15 assists for 59 points in 84 games. During her four-year career, the Lady Tigers compiled a 68-17-5 record, won four-straight conference championships and earned four-consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in physical education/teacher education, Simonin elected to return to the Kansas City area to pursue her master’s degree.
Simonin posted a 3.81 grade-point average at Memphis, before earning her master’s degree in higher education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Simonin served as a graduate assistant coach in her two years at UMKC, gaining her first experience working day-to-day with student-athletes.
