Stevan Morris Simmons, age 82 departed this life on Thursday, June 4, 2026 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was born August 1, 1943 in Junction City, Kansas to Abbie Mildred Carter Simmons and Major Morris H. Simmons who was stationed at Fort Riley. After the war they moved to Dayton. Mildred taught for many years in the Dayton Public Schools. Steve and his family have been active members of Wayman Chapel A. M. E. Church since the 1930's when his grandparents Theodore and Abbey Carter and moved to Dayton from Wilberforce, Ohio.

Steve went to school at Weaver Elementary where his interest in track and field started. He attended Roosevelt High and was on the newspaper staff, the track team and a member of the Ohio State High School Championship Track Team in 1961 under Coach Floyd "Dude" Norman. He also participated in the sports programs at Linden Community and Recreation Center.

He moved to Los Angeles after graduating from high school, played basketball at Los Angeles City College and was named All Conference in Basketball. He received a full athletic scholarship to play basketball and run track at Chapman College and became almost a one man track team. He competed in the High Hurdles, Intermediate Hurdles, 400 Meters, 440 Relay, and Mile Relay. He was the sports writer for the school newspaper and was able to capture all his accomplishments on paper. Steve was named All-American in Hurdles, All Pacific Coast High Hurdles & Intermediate Hurdles and Athlete of the Year at Chapman College.

After graduating from Chapman, he taught History at Brett Hart Junior High School in

Los Angeles and became the Assistant Track Coach at Chapman College. Steve became the

Head Coach at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo in 1970 where he coached

51 All Americans, 12 NCAA Champions & 3 Olympians. In 1976 he was named Head Track

Coach at Oregon State University where he coached 5 All Americans, 6 Pac-8 Conference Champions, 1 NCAA Champion & 3 Olympians. In 1984 he became Vice President of Accusplit Sports Timing and coach of the Accusplit Sports Club.

Steve was the coach on seven US National and Olympic Festival Teams. He was on the

Nike Coaches Advisory Board and a National Coordinator of the TAC Development Board for

18 years. He coached and gave clinics for African, Danish, Brazilian and Korean National Teams. He was named to the first San Jose City Sports Authority Board. He also coached 9 USA 1st place Decantation Teams that competed in France from 2005-2017.

He is one of only eight men in American history to serve on three Olympic Coaching Staffs. Manager and head manager for the 1980 & 1984 USA Olympic Teams and named Team

Leader for the entire Track and Field contingency in Barcelona at the 1992 Olympics.

Steve was called the "godfather" of track & field by coaches because he always mentored and helped coaches get jobs and be named to USA Olympic and national teams. He was mentored by Mal Whitfield, Dr. Leroy Walker, Stan Wright and Larry Ellis. He always felt it was his responsibly to advise and make it possible for other athletes to move up in track and field. He also made it possible for former Olympians to be recognized for their accomplishments beginning with a 40th reunion of the 1968 Olympic Team in New Orleans in 2008. At the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, he invited the former Tigerbells of Tennessee State to be guests of honor. He worked with John Carlos and Tommie Smith to bring them back into track and field after their treatment following the 1968 Olympics. Steve knew people nationally and internationally and used his contacts and skills as a negotiator to get things done for others. Over the years he helped shape the values of hundreds of young people.

Steve was a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Donna, daughter Catherine (Eric), son Peter

(Oletha) and grandchildren: Sean, Miles and Camuriel Parr, Peter and Allison Simmons.

As Steve would say, #22 on your program, #1 in your heart