– Ann Beckett/Tribune-Courier||Coach Simmons talks to the Lady Marshals during a time-out in their game against St. Mary in the Mid-America tournament Saturday at MSU's RSEC.

Simmons gets first look at team

New Lady Marshals
coach hits the court
at Hoops Classic


By Ann Beckett
Tribune-Courier Sports
sports@tribunecourier.com


DRAFFENVILLE– New Lady Marshals head coach Joseph Simmons got a firsthand look at his team this weekend when they played in the Mid America Summer Hoops Classic at the Regional Special Events Center at Murray State.

Simmons met with the Lady Marshals for the first time last Monday before the press conference at MCHS announcing him as the new head coach.

On the switch from coaching boys to girls Simmons said, “Obviously there will be differences, but I’ll expect the girls to come to practice every day with the same mindset and a good attitude.”

“The style of play will depend on the personnel we have,” said Simmons. “We will start fresh with a clean slate.”

Simmons was one of over 30 applicants applying for the head coaching position. When asked what he hoped stood out in the interview process Simmons responded, “My passion and energy for the game of basketball and my dedication to my family.”

Simmons worked as an assistant at Wallace State Community College under Coach Allen Sharpe who will be the new head coach at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

“Joseph will do a great job for Marshall County girls basketball and the community,” said Sharpe. “He has been a part of our program at Wallace State for the past four years. We have won games at a highly unusual rate (120-15). I feel that Joseph will bring a winning attitude to Marshall County and he knows what it takes to run a first class program.”

Simmons’ wife, the former Adrian Farmer, is a graduate of MCHS and the move back to Marshall County will mean that they will be closer to family especially now that they are the parents of a two month old baby girl.