PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania track and field teams and Steve Dolan, James P. Tuppeny/Betty J. Costanza Director of Track & Field/XC, are excited to announce the newest coaching addition for the upcoming season, welcoming Isaiah Simmons as the lead throws coach. 
 
"We are excited to welcome Isaiah to the Penn Track & Field Family," Dolan said. "I have been very impressed with Coach Simmons' track record of helping student-athletes develop their talents. I'm looking forward to watching him and the Penn throwers build on our rich history of success in the years to come."  
 
Simmons brings Division I experience from several stops including time at Florida State, Fairleigh Dickinson, and most recently, Sam Houston State.
 
His time at Sam Houston State last year saw him groom the throws group to 26 points at conference championships. With his knowledge in the recruiting area, he secured nine student-athletes within his first 12 months for the throws area.
 
Prior to his time at Sam Houston State, he worked as a graduate assistant at FDU and an operation assistant at Florida State. He helped coach the FDU women to the 2022 NEC indoor title, as well as assisting in the FSU men as 2020 ACC indoor champions. He has coached five individual conference champions, 19 first-team All-Conference selections, and was a part of the 2022 NEC Coaching Staff of the Year at FDU.
 
"I am extremely grateful to Coach Dolan, Dr. Shanahan, and Mr. Ward for allowing me the opportunity to join the University of Pennsylvania's track & field coaching staff," Simmons said. "I look forward to sustaining and elevating the Quaker's Ivy League and national success as well as establishing Penn as a premier destination for all throwers."
 
A 2016 graduate from the University of Miami, Simmons was a throwing star in the ACC. He was named ACC Field Event MVP twice in his career, while winning four ACC titles in the shot put. He owned three Miami program records, securing the indoor and outdoor shot put spots and the discus while ranking fourth in the hammer and weight throw.
 
Simmons graduated from Miami with a degree in studio art and earned his master's in sport management from FDU in 2022. He has USTFCCCA Throws Specialist certification, as well as USATF Level I and Level II Throws.