Bio

Head Coach Joseph Simmons
joseph.simmons@wallacestate.edu
256.352.8481

Joseph Simmons enters his second season as head coach of the Wallace State Lady Lions women’s basketball program in 2025-26. 

In his first season (2024-25), Simmons led the Lady Lions to a historic 29-5 record and captured the program’s first ACCC Championship since 2011. The Lady Lions advanced to the Sweet Sixteen at the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament in Casper, Wyoming – marking one of the most successful campaigns in program history. 

In 2024-25, Wallace State ranked #1 nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 45.2 points per game, and #3 nationally in made three-pointers (345). The Lady Lions also featured the nation’s top three-point shooter, Kallie Tinker, who made 135 threes while shooting 40% from beyond the arc. 

Because of the team’s success, Simmons was named the 2024-25 South District Coach of the Year and numerous players earned individual honors, including an NJCAA All-American, the ACCC Tournament MVP, two ACCC All-Tournament selections, two ACCC All-Conference selections, and six NJCAA Academic All-Americans. 

The Lady Lions own seven ACCC championships and have made nine appearances at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament. 

Simmons previously served as an assistant coach for the Wallace State men's basketball team from 2006-2010 under former coach Allen Sharpe, who is now the head women's basketball coach at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. 

Before his first stint coaching at Wallace State, Simmons was the head varsity boy’s basketball coach at East Poinsett County Schools in Lepanto, Arkansas from 2004 to 2006. After leaving Wallace State in 2010, he served as the head varsity girl’s basketball coach at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky (2010-2017), head varsity girl’s basketball coach at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tennessee (2017-2022), and head varsity girl’s basketball coach at Green Hill High School in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (2022-2024). 

Across 17 seasons as a head coach, Simmons has compiled a 392-161 career record, leading his teams to twelve seasons of 20+ wins and two 30+ win campaigns. 

A native of Arkansas, Simmons holds master's degrees from the University of the Cumberlands and the United States Sports Academy, a bachelor's degree from Arkansas State University, and an associate's degree from Crowley's Ridge College. 

He played collegiately at Crowley’s Ridge College (Arkansas) from 1998-2000, and Vennard College (Iowa) from 2001-2002. 

Simmons and his wife, Adrienne, are the parents of two daughters – Kennedy and Kylie.