SALEM, Ore. -- Shannon (Pun) Simmons ('01), who played outside hitter at Willamette University from 1998 through 2000, has been hired as an assistant volleyball coach for the Bearcats. Simmons will begin her duties immediately, and will join the team in person when practice begins in August.
"Shannon brings a lot of enthusiasm to our program. She is energetic and wants to learn and help the program get to be one of the top three in the conference," Willamette Head Volleyball Coach Tom Shoji said.
Simmons played for the Bearcats for three seasons after playing one year at Seattle Pacific University. She was named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference as a junior in 1999.
"As a player, I joined Bearcat volleyball at a crossroads in life and they became family," Simmons said. "Playing Willamette volleyball taught me valuable lessons of dedication, perseverance, commitment and team. I am so incredibly honored and excited to be back with Willamette Athletics and coaching young women the valuable lessons that I learned when I played,"
During her junior year at Willamette, Simmons saw action in 19 matches and 56 games, as she helped the Bearcats go 17-9 overall and 12-4 in the NWC (2nd place tie). She recorded 189 kills and 3.38 kills per game, while earning a .235 hitting percentage. She also recorded 89 digs (1.59 avg.) and 11 blocks (0.20 avg.). She helped the Bearcats go 14-8 overall and 12-4 in the NWC in 1998.
After playing for the Bearcats, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Willamette in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. She earned an Master of Science degree in Exercise Science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2006. She added a Doctorate of Health Science in Global Health from A.T. Still University in Arizona in 2010.
Simmons previously spent two years coaching the Under-16 team for the Salem Volleyball Club. She currently coaches for Capital City Elite.
In addition to being an assistant coach at Willamette, Simmons will continue as a full-time professor at nearby Corban University, where she has completed eight years as Director and Associate Professor of Exercise Science.
"She has the perspective of an ex-athlete in collegiate volleyball and is an expert in the field of sports nutrition," Shoji said. "She is the author of 'Real-Life Healthy You'. She'll be a great addition to our staff with the knowledge she has is this area. Our players will really enjoy her energy and excitement."
Shannon Simmons, who played volleyball at Willamette from 1998 through 2000, has been hired as an assistant coach for the Bearcats.
