Rafael Simmons, 2025-26 Barton Women's Soccer Head Coach

Bio

Rafael Simmons begins his second season leading the Barton women’s soccer program, as well as his fourth year with the men’s squad.

Returning just three starters from the 2023-24 National Tournament team, Simmons directed the Lady Cougars to a fifth-place conference finish in year one at 7-5-4 before bowing out to the eventual Region 6/Plains District Champions concluding the season at 9-6-4 overall.

Four Cougars earned All-KJCCC/Region 6 post-season recognition with each landing on the second team led by returning award recipients Fiona Jolly and Mio Tanaka in being joined by fellow sophomores Leticia Quadros and Beatriz Baldi.

On the men’s side, the two-time Coach of the Year has compiled a 23-8-3 record against conference opponents and a 44-16-8 overall record in his three prior seasons. Simmons has produced a pair of Jayhawk Championships (2022 and 2023) along with a National Tournament appearance in 2023.

Simmons’ squads have landed a total of 29 (25 men and four women) on the All-KJCCC/Region VI post-season honors including additional top award distinctions of Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.  On top of the conference/region awards, Simmons had two NJCAA All-America honorees in 2023-24, forward Lucas Constante named to the 1st Team and defenseman Henrique Cruz landing on the national 2nd Team.  The pair marked the third time in a six season span that the program landed two on the national award list in becoming the 22nd and 23rd All-America award winners.

In addition to the KJCCC/Region VI honors, Maxence Voinier made an impression on the national stage in being named to the 12-man 2023 NJCAA Championship All-Tournament team.

Simmons arrived to Barton from Tulsa, Oklahoma, having spent the previous two years with the Tulsa Soccer Club as the Director of the Elite Clubs National League Regional League and coach of two elite teams.  Simmons was also one of the assistant coaches for the semi-pro women’s team (Tulsa SC) of the Women’s Premier Soccer League, capturing the 2021 WPSL Red River Conference North title with four players drafted into the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League).  Additionally, one of Simmons’ former youth players at Tulsa SC was recently called up into the United States U14 Youth National Team Camp.

A familiar face to the KJCCC and coaching against the Cougars, Simmons was the head coach at Neosho County Community College from 2015 through the 2019 season. 

On the men’s side, Simmons led the Panthers to the 2017 Jayhawk East title and a No. 5 national ranking, compiling a 57-35-3 overall record and 28-21-1 conference mark.

Taking over the women’s program in 2016 struggling to field players, Simmons revitalized the Panthers to end a 37-match winless streak across to seasons in rising to the program’s first ever national ranking in just his third season.  Overall Simmons’ Lady Panthers’ record finished at 11-36-1 in conference play and 22-48-2 overall.

At Neosho, Simmons guided 28 players to All-Conference selections, 13 players to All-Region honors, and 11 players received Scholar All-American honors.

Under Simmons’ leadership, over 30 players transferred to 4-year collegiate programs in his last 3 seasons. Coach Simmons recruited top student-athletes nation-wide including players from USSDA academies, ECNL clubs, and Gatorade Players of the Year.

While at Neosho, in 2017 Simmons served as the assistant Coach for Ozarks FC in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).

Collegiately, Simmons was a two-time All-Region selection at Crowder College, moving on to earn All-Conference honors at NAIA powerhouse Ashford University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Coaching.

Simmons began his coaching career as the head varsity coach at Prince of Peace College Preparatory in Clinton, Iowa, before moving on to Dakota Wesleyan University helping the Tigers to their first winning season in ten years. Working primarily with the defenders and goalkeepers, Simmons’ defense posted twelve shutouts and conference and national player of the week honors in his two seasons.  While at DWU, Simmons completed his Master of Arts in Education and Policy while holding multiple other coaching positions at different levels including Head Coach of the Dakota Alliance Soccer Club and the Dakotas Olympic Development Program (ODP). 

A United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma certified, Simmons also holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B License and is currently pursuing his USSF A-Senior License.

Before coming to the United States, Simmons spent time playing in the youth academy of Bristol City FC and with the English Southern League side Bristol Manor Farm FC. During that time Simmons had the opportunity to participate in the English F.A. Youth Cup, English F.A. Cup, and the English F.A. Vase.

Native of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Simmons moved to Bristol, England, at ten years old before entering the United States to compete collegiately and attain his education degrees.

Fluent in both English and Portuguese, Simmons and his wife Sarah who is now in her second season as assistant coach for the volleyball team, have two sets of twins, Mikael and Mylah and the two year younger duo of Annika and Avery.