Luke Simons is in his second season as Director of Men’s Basketball Operations at College of Charleston.
Simons joined the Cougars from the SEC after serving the last three years as Director of Scouting at Vanderbilt University under Bryce Drew. The Commodores earned an at-large NCAA Tournament berth in 2017.
“We are very fortunate to attract a coach like Luke Simons,” CofC Head Coach Earl Grant said. “He has a great blend of experience with his administration background as well as scouting and international travel. Luke came highly recommended from several coaches that I trust. He has a great basketball mind and IQ for the game. I am excited and confident that he can help move our program forward.”
Prior to Vandy, he spent one season on Bryce Drew’s staff at Valparaiso in the same capacity, where he helped the Crusaders to a single-season win record (30-7 overall), a Horizon League Championship and a Postseason NIT Runner-Up finish in 2016.
"My family and I are thrilled to join the College of Charleston Athletics Family,” Simons said. “The program's storied basketball history is an impressive foundation to which we are eager to help build upon. The culture Coach Grant has created at The College leads to wins on-and-off the court and we are humbled by the opportunity to be a part of it.”
Before beginning his tenure with Drew in 2015 at Valpo, Simons spent nearly a decade working with Athletes in Action as an international team director and coach as well as a regional coordinator. During his time with AIA, he helped assemble and direct multiple international competitive tours throughout Europe and Asia. Simons also created Captains Academy, an AIA leadership initiative to serve influencers in basketball.
Outside of AIA, Simons served as Director of Operations for Team USA at the last three World University Games and is co-founder of the International Basketball Coaches Experience, which is held annually at the NCAA Final Four.
His coaching experience also includes working as an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development for the Mongolian National Team from 2012 to 2015 reaching the final round of the 2015 Asian Games. Simons previously spent one season as Interim Head Coach at Black Hawk College in Moline, Ill., and five years as an Assistant Coach at West Lafayette High School in West Lafayette, Ind.
A native of Shelbyville, Ind., he is a graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in movement and sports science.
