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Doesn't this somehow make Coach Jake's salary seem a bit wrong...for a new first-year Division 1 head coach to make $100,000 more at Evansville?
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/16915644.htm
SIUE men's coach returns to Evansville
Simmons was player, assistant coach
BY DAVID WILHELM AND STEVE KORTE
News-Democrat
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's basketball coach Marty Simmons is headed back to his alma mater, the University of Evansville.
Simmons, 42, was hired as the head coach of the Purple Aces on Thursday.
"Evansville has a very, very special place in my heart," said Simmons, who played for the Purple Aces from 1986-88 and later served as an assistant coach at the school from 1990-96 and 1997-2002. "I feel fortunate to again be part of the Evansville basketball program, which has so much tradition and history. I look forward to locking arms with the current players so we can achieve success together."
Simmons informed his players at SIUE of his decision to leave about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
"When we talked a few minutes ago, I said, 'Marty, I'm ecstatic for you,'" SIUE Athletic Director Brad Hewitt said. "I'm excited for him and his family.
"This is one of his dre am jobs. When we first got to know each other, he said there were two or three jobs that he would want to have to take the team to the NCAA Tournament. This was one of them."
Simmons replaced Steve Merfeld, who resigned March 3 after five losing seasons and a 54-91 record with the Purple Aces.
"I am very pleased to bring one of the true legends of Aces basketball back to the University of Evansville," Evansville Athletic Director Bill McGillis said. "Marty Simmons is Evansville basketball. He represents the values, integrity and commitment to excellence that have exemplified our program throughout its history.
"Marty is an outstanding basketball coach, a proven winner. Marty's success as a player and assistant coach at UE, and the fantastic job he did in rebuilding the SIUE basketball program, have prepared him well for this opportunity."
Simmons had a 88-59 record in five seasons for the Division II Cougars, including a 15-12 mark last season. He took the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament in 2004-2005 and again in 2005-2006, winning the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championship and advancing to the Elite Eight after breaking the school record for wins with 25.
Hewitt said the Cougars wanted to keep Simmons as they make the jump to a Division I athletic program, but they couldn't match Evansville's salary offer.
Simmons made about $100,000 at SIUE. He is expected to earn about $250,000 at Evansville.
"He's propelled us to the opportunity to go to Division I," Hewitt said. "We're sure we're going to go for someone with his same pedigree (as a replacement).
"I had been anticipating something could happen. We always knew this would be a possibility. It was a possibility last year."
Simmons interviewed at Wright State at the end of last season, but remained at SIUE.
Simmons, a native of Lawrenceville, which is located about 65 miles from the University of Evansville, said being the head coach of the Purple Aces has been his dream job.
"I don't think that it is a secret that this is a position that I dreamed about at times," Simmons said. "I'm very honored and very flattered to be given this opportunity."
Affectionately known as 'Mule,' Simmons led Lawrenceville High School to back-to-back Class A state championships in 1982 and 1983. He finished with 2,986 career points, the third most in Illinois high school history at the time.
Simmons played two seasons at the University of Indiana before transferring to Evansville.
Simmons averaged 22.4 points as a junior and led Evansville to a first-place tie in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference.
As a senior, he finished sixth in the nation in scoring at 25.9, and finished ninth in balloting for The Associated Press' College Basketball Player of the Year. He led the Aces to a 21-8 record and a first-round win over Utah in the NIT.
Simmons takes over an Evansville program that has experienced seven consecutive losing seasons, the longest such stretch in school history.
"I don't think there is any secret about the pride and the passion that I have for Evansville basketball, the University of Evansville and the community as a whole," Simmons said. "I pledge that I will work tireless hours to bring back the winning tradition."
The Aces' most recent postseason action came in 1999 when they won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship and earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The move also is a homecoming for Marty's wife, Angie, who grew up in nearby Newburgh and met her future husband while both attended Evansville. Marty and Angie have four children: Brittany, 19, a sophomore at SIUE; Kelsey, 15; Blake, 12, and Cole, 4.
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/16915644.htm
SIUE men's coach returns to Evansville
Simmons was player, assistant coach
BY DAVID WILHELM AND STEVE KORTE
News-Democrat
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's basketball coach Marty Simmons is headed back to his alma mater, the University of Evansville.
Simmons, 42, was hired as the head coach of the Purple Aces on Thursday.
"Evansville has a very, very special place in my heart," said Simmons, who played for the Purple Aces from 1986-88 and later served as an assistant coach at the school from 1990-96 and 1997-2002. "I feel fortunate to again be part of the Evansville basketball program, which has so much tradition and history. I look forward to locking arms with the current players so we can achieve success together."
Simmons informed his players at SIUE of his decision to leave about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
"When we talked a few minutes ago, I said, 'Marty, I'm ecstatic for you,'" SIUE Athletic Director Brad Hewitt said. "I'm excited for him and his family.
"This is one of his dre am jobs. When we first got to know each other, he said there were two or three jobs that he would want to have to take the team to the NCAA Tournament. This was one of them."
Simmons replaced Steve Merfeld, who resigned March 3 after five losing seasons and a 54-91 record with the Purple Aces.
"I am very pleased to bring one of the true legends of Aces basketball back to the University of Evansville," Evansville Athletic Director Bill McGillis said. "Marty Simmons is Evansville basketball. He represents the values, integrity and commitment to excellence that have exemplified our program throughout its history.
"Marty is an outstanding basketball coach, a proven winner. Marty's success as a player and assistant coach at UE, and the fantastic job he did in rebuilding the SIUE basketball program, have prepared him well for this opportunity."
Simmons had a 88-59 record in five seasons for the Division II Cougars, including a 15-12 mark last season. He took the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament in 2004-2005 and again in 2005-2006, winning the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championship and advancing to the Elite Eight after breaking the school record for wins with 25.
Hewitt said the Cougars wanted to keep Simmons as they make the jump to a Division I athletic program, but they couldn't match Evansville's salary offer.
Simmons made about $100,000 at SIUE. He is expected to earn about $250,000 at Evansville.
"He's propelled us to the opportunity to go to Division I," Hewitt said. "We're sure we're going to go for someone with his same pedigree (as a replacement).
"I had been anticipating something could happen. We always knew this would be a possibility. It was a possibility last year."
Simmons interviewed at Wright State at the end of last season, but remained at SIUE.
Simmons, a native of Lawrenceville, which is located about 65 miles from the University of Evansville, said being the head coach of the Purple Aces has been his dream job.
"I don't think that it is a secret that this is a position that I dreamed about at times," Simmons said. "I'm very honored and very flattered to be given this opportunity."
Affectionately known as 'Mule,' Simmons led Lawrenceville High School to back-to-back Class A state championships in 1982 and 1983. He finished with 2,986 career points, the third most in Illinois high school history at the time.
Simmons played two seasons at the University of Indiana before transferring to Evansville.
Simmons averaged 22.4 points as a junior and led Evansville to a first-place tie in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference.
As a senior, he finished sixth in the nation in scoring at 25.9, and finished ninth in balloting for The Associated Press' College Basketball Player of the Year. He led the Aces to a 21-8 record and a first-round win over Utah in the NIT.
Simmons takes over an Evansville program that has experienced seven consecutive losing seasons, the longest such stretch in school history.
"I don't think there is any secret about the pride and the passion that I have for Evansville basketball, the University of Evansville and the community as a whole," Simmons said. "I pledge that I will work tireless hours to bring back the winning tradition."
The Aces' most recent postseason action came in 1999 when they won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship and earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The move also is a homecoming for Marty's wife, Angie, who grew up in nearby Newburgh and met her future husband while both attended Evansville. Marty and Angie have four children: Brittany, 19, a sophomore at SIUE; Kelsey, 15; Blake, 12, and Cole, 4.
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