Darrin Simmons
Football (1991-93)
Induction Year: 2022
Simmons came to Dodge City Community College from Elkhart High School as a much decorated football player. While playing at DCCC he had a great amount of success on the field for the Conqs. Simmons sophomore year he led all of the NJCAA in yards per punt average at 43.5 yards per punt. He led the Jayhawk Conference by over 10 yards per punt. That led to NJCAA first-team All-American Honors in 1992. He still holds the school record for most career punting yards with 4,229 yards and ranks second in school history with 104 punts in his career and 2,611 yards in a season (1992) and is tied for sixth in single-season punts with 60 in 1992. Simmons also was the starting quarterback for the Conqs during his sophomore season as he threw for 1,140 yards with seven touchdowns and added 104 yards rushing with three touchdowns. He also earned academic All-American honors and in 1992 was selected as first-team J.C. Gridwire punter.
After DCCC Simmons continued his career at the University of Kansas. While at KU he earned All-Big Eight honors in 1995. He was also an Academic All-American for KU during the 1995 season.
Following his playing career Simmons started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at KU as well as the University of Minnesota. In 1998 he jumped into the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, then the Carolina Panthers, and eventually the Cincinnati Bengals. He has been the special teams coordinator with the Bengals for over 10 years, and now also serves as the assistant head coach.
Simmons graduated from the University of Kansas in 1996 with a degree in Sports Management. He and his wife Rhonda have two sons.
