The 2024-25 season marks
Bob Simon’s fourth year as an assistant coach with the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball program.
Simon, who earned his degree from Eastern in 1989, works with the program’s guards on the court.
In his third season, Eastern was 13-18 and 6-12 in MAC play. The Eagles closed the season by winning four of the last seven games, including a last-second victory over then-MAC-leading University of Akron, March 5. Tyson Acuff averaged 21.7 points per game, which led the MAC and ranked seventh in the nation.
The Eagles retained the Michigan MAC Trophy after finishing 2022-23 with a 2-1 combined record against Western Michigan and Central Michigan.
Emoni Bates, who averaged 19.2 points per game, was drafted in the second round and 49th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking EMU’s 15th NBA draft pick. EMU finished 2022-23 8-23 overall and 5-13 in conference action.
In his first season back in Ypsilanti, Simon worked with one of the Mid-American Conference’s top scorers in Noah Farrakhan, who finished seventh in the league averaging 16.6 points per game, which also ranks as third-highest average among players returning in 2022-23. Farrakhan, who was ranked in the top 20 of six statistical categories, led the team in scoring and assists (61), and was third in steals (30).
On Jan. 4, 2022, with Head Coach Stan Heath sidelined because of health and safety protocols, Simon was called upon to lead the team in its game at Western Michigan University and guided the Eagles to an 85-79 win over the rival Broncos. While the win officially is credited to Heath, Simon lead a team to victory for the first since the 1999-00 season at Wayne State University (women’s team).
Simon has amassed a wealth of highly successful Division I coaching experience, having served on the staffs at Siena College (2019-21), the University of Maine (2017-18), the University of Alabama (2015-17), Providence College (2011-15), Fairfield University (2006-11), and the University of Toledo (2000-06), in addition to a nine-year stint at Division II Wayne State University (1991-00).
Prior to his arrival in Ypsilanti, Simon spent the last two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Regular Season Championship and sixth MAAC Tournament title. Siena posted a 20-10 overall record in 2019-20 including a 15-5 mark in conference play, while posting a perfect 14-0 record at the Times Union Center and ending the season on a 10-game winning streak.
Simon aided in the development of MAAC Player of the Year Jalen Pickett, and fellow First Team All-MAAC selection Manny Camper. Serving as the team’s offensive coordinator, Siena led the MAAC in field goal percentage (45.9 – 64th nationally), scoring margin (+4.5), and scoring offense (72.2), while it also ranked 67th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (35.5).
During his two-year stint in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Simon helped guide Alabama to back-to-back NIT appearances as the associate head coach under former NBA coach Avery Johnson. Simon assisted in recruiting the No. 5 ESPN ranked incoming recruiting class in the nation to UA in 2017. In his first season at Alabama, the Crimson Tide broke a school record for threes made (259) and threes attempted (763), while also toppling four top-25 ranked teams for the first time since 2002.
Simon helped head coach Ed Cooley and Providence win the Big East Championship in 2014. The Friars reached back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 2014 and 2015, and advanced to the NIT Quarterfinals in 2013. During his four seasons in Rhode Island, the final of which he served as associate head coach, Simon was instrumental in securing a pair of top-25 recruiting classes, highlighted by 2016 NBA Draft selections Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, and Providence’s second-ever 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound standout LaDontae Henton.
The Detroit, Mich. native first coached in the MAAC under Cooley as the associate head coach at Fairfield, where he served alongside Carmen Maciariello on the bench from 2008-11. Simon helped lead the Stags to 92 wins during his tenure, marking the most during a five-year span in program history. Fairfield earned a berth to the CIT in 2010, and achieved a school-record 25 wins, MAAC Regular Season Championship, and NIT Second Round appearance in 2011.
Simon first entered the Division I coaching ranks at Toledo, where he was the associate head coach of the Rockets for the final three years of his six-year tenure. Toledo posted three 20-win seasons, and captured a pair of NIT berths (2001, 2004) during his time with Head Coach Stan Joplin.
He began his collegiate coaching career at Wayne State, which he helped lead the then-Tartars to the Division II Final Four in 1993. In his eight seasons with the men’s basketball team, five of which he served as the associate head coach, he helped guide the Warriors to four NCAA Tournament appearances and three conference titles. During his final season at WSU in 1999-00, Simon shifted over to become the women’s basketball head coach, where he led the Warriors to 13 wins and the program’s second-ever conference tournament berth.
Simon began his coaching career with 10 years in the high school ranks at Thurston High School in Redford, Mich. (1981-87), and Anderson High School in Southgate, Mich. (1987-91).
A 1989 graduate of Eastern Michigan with his bachelor’s degree in manufacturing technology, Simon earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 1997.
Simon and his wife, Donna, have a daughter, Bobbie, and a son, Devin.
| The Bob Simon File |
| Name: |
Robert Simon |
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| High School: |
Lee M. Thurston H.S. - Redford, Mich. |
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| College: |
Eastern Michigan University, 1989 - Bachelor's Degree in manufacturing technology |
|
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Wayne State University, 1997 - Master's Degree in sport administration |
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| Family: |
Wife: Donna; Children: Daughter, Bobbie; Son, Devin |
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| Coaching Experience |
| Year |
School/Company |
Position |
| 2021-Present |
Eastern Michigan University |
Assistant Coach |
| 2019-21 |
Siena College |
Assistant Coach |
| 2017-18 |
University of Maine |
Assistant Coach |
| 2015-17 |
University of Alabama |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2014-15 |
Providence College |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2011-14 |
Providence College |
Assistant Coach |
| 2006-11 |
Fairfield University |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2003-06 |
University of Toledo |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2000-03 |
University of Toledo |
Assistant Coach |
| 1999-2000 |
Wayne State University |
Head Women's Basketball Coach |
| 1994-99 |
Wayne State University |
Associate Head Coach |
| 1991-94 |
Wayne State University |
Assistant Coach |
| 1987-91 |
Anderson High School |
Head Boy's Basketball Coach |
| 1981-87 |
Thurston High School |
Head Boy's Basketball Coach |
