Men's Basketball
Simmons, Chris
Chris Simmons
- Title:
- Head Athletic Trainer for Men’s Basketball
- Email:
- cbsimmns@memphis.edu
- Phone:
- 901-678-2346
A 2002 graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Simmons is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and National Academy of Sports Medicine. He was on the bench when the 2007-08 Memphis team reached the NCAA championship game.
Simmons spent 10 seasons (through the 2018-19 season) as head athletic trainer for men’s basketball at the University of Kentucky. In his third season, the Wildcats won their eighth national title.
Under Simmons’ guidance at Kentucky and Memphis, 45 players have been selected in the NBA Draft, including four NBA No. 1 overall selections and 24 NBA lottery picks.
Simmons has been on the bench of five NCAA Final Four appearances, including three national championship games and the historic 2014-15 run by Kentucky. The Wildcats became the first team in college basketball to start a season 38-0.
Simmons was a member of a Tiger staff that helped direct Memphis to three consecutive record-setting seasons. In his first season, Memphis posted a 33-4 overall record, won the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
On the Tigers' road to the 2008 national championship game, Simmons’ quick work on star guard Derrick Rose’s cut above his eye suffered in the NCAA South Regional semifinal game against Michigan State aided the Tigers’ postseason run. Rose finished the Michigan State game and had a solid performance against Texas in the South Regional final to claim the NCAA Men’s Basketball South Regional MVP honor.
Before his first stint at Memphis, he spent the 2005-06 basketball season as head athletic trainer/coordinator of basketball operations with the Arkansas RimRockers of the NBA Development League.
Simmons earned his master’s degree in 2004 from the University of Arkansas. During his tenure with the Razorbacks, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with football.
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