Jake Simmons

Title

Assistant Basketball Coach

Jake Simmons joins the Villa Maria coaching staff as an Assistant Coach in 2019.

Simmons was hired as the freshman head basketball in 2016 for the St. Joe’s Collegiate Institute, while also playing professionally for the Buffalo 716ers. Simmons is a native or Rochester, N.Y. and attended Buffalo State from 2009-2013. In 107 games and four year career, Simmons scored 2,079 points, which broke a 42-year Bengals Basketball record.

A motivational speaker, he uses the hashtag #NowMe to encourage young people to make the most of the opportunities that come their way. He advises young men and women to change their perspective. “Instead of saying ‘Why me?’ and blaming others for failures or mishaps in your life, accept the things you cannot change because complaining doesn't help. The things you can change? You change them so that they benefit you as a human being and leader for your community and even go as far as to spark change in the world.” (Said during an interview with the 716 Sports Podcast).