Simmons hired to lead Wallace State women’s basketball team

Hanceville, AL — Wallace State Community College has hired Joseph Simmons to lead the women’s basketball team, President Dr. Vicki Karolewics announced today.

“We are proud to welcome Coach Simmons back to Wallace State and look forward to his continuing the tradition of winning for the Lady Lions,” Karolewics said.

Simmons previously served as assistant coach to the men’s basketball team from 2006-2010 under former coach Allen Sharpe, who is now the women’s basketball coach at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

Before his first stint coaching at Wallace State, Simmons was the head varsity boys basketball coach at East Poinsett County Schools in Lepanto, Ark., from 2004 to 2006.

After leaving Wallace State in 2010, he served as the head varsity girls basketball coach at Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky. (2010-2017) and head varsity girls basketball coach at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tenn., (2017-2022).

He returns to Wallace State after most recently serving as head varsity girls basketball coach at Green Hill High School in Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to be named the head women’s basketball coach at Wallace State,” Simmons said. “I want to thank Dr. Karolewics for entrusting me with leading the women’s basketball program. I look forward to building upon the history and tradition of success of this program. I’m looking forward to meeting the team and starting the process of building relationships with them.

“Wallace State is a special place, and my family and I are excited to be back,” he added. “My wife and I moved here right after we got married. We had our first child while I was previously coaching at Wallace State. My wife is an alumnus of WSCC. So, it definitely feels like we are coming home. I’m ready to hit the ground running.”

Simmons takes over a team that finished the 2023-2024 season 25-6 and as runner-up in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) South District/Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) championship. The Lady Lions own six ACCC championships and have made six appearances at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament.

Simmons’ career coaching record is 483-171 between 16 years coaching high school (363-156) and four years as assistant at Wallace State (120-15).

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

###

About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally-recognized by the Aspen Institute among the top institutions according to student outcomes, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.