Rafael Simmons, 2026-27 Barton Women's Head Soccer Coach

Bio

Rafael Simmons enters his third season leading the Barton women’s soccer program, as well as his fifth season directing the men’s team.

Program Success:
- Overall record at Barton: 21-14-6
- Conference record: 13-11-6
- 2 Region 6/Plains District Tournament appearances
- Jayhawk Conference Finishes
   - 2025 – 4th
   - 2024 – 5th

Player Development:
- 9 All-KJCCC and All-Region 6 selections (2 First Team, 7 Second Team)

Since taking over the program in 2024, Simmons has guided Barton to a 21-14-6 overall record while leading the Cougars to consecutive top-five finishes in the Jayhawk Conference, improving from fifth in his inaugural season to fourth in 2025. Under his leadership, nine student-athletes have earned both All-KJCCC and All-Region 6 honors.

In addition to leading the women’s program, Simmons has guided the Barton men’s soccer program to two Jayhawk Conference championships, two NJCAA National Tournament appearances and numerous national honors during his tenure.

Simmons arrived at Barton after spending two seasons with Tulsa Soccer Club as the Director of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Regional League while coaching two elite club teams. He also served as an assistant coach for Tulsa SC of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), helping the club capture the 2021 Red River Conference North championship. During his time with the club, four players were selected in the National Women’s Soccer League Draft.

Prior to Tulsa, Simmons spent five seasons as head coach at Neosho County Community College, where he led the men’s program to the 2017 Jayhawk East Conference championship and a No. 5 national ranking while compiling a 57-35-3 overall record.

Simmons also revitalized the Neosho women’s program, ending a 37-match winless streak and guiding the Panthers to the program’s first national ranking within three seasons. During five seasons at Neosho, he coached 28 All-Conference selections, 13 All-Region honorees and 11 Scholar All-America’s while helping more than 30 student-athletes transfer to four-year institutions.

In addition to his collegiate responsibilities, Simmons served as an assistant coach for Ozarks FC of the National Premier Soccer League during the 2017 season.

Simmons began his collegiate coaching career at Prince of Peace College Preparatory in Clinton, Iowa, before joining Dakota Wesleyan University. At Dakota Wesleyan, he helped the Tigers to their first winning season in a decade while working primarily with the defensive unit and goalkeepers. During his time there, Simmons also served as head coach of Dakota Alliance Soccer Club and coached within the Dakota Olympic Development Program.

A native of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Simmons moved to Bristol, England at age 10, where he developed in the Bristol City FC academy before competing for Bristol Manor Farm FC. He later moved to the United States to continue his playing career, earning two All-Region selections at Crowder College before receiving All-Conference honors at Ashford University.

He holds a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma and a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B License.

Simmons is fluent in English and Portuguese. He and his wife, Sarah, an assistant coach for the Barton volleyball program, have two sets of twins: Mikael and Mylah, and Annika and Avery.