Ivan Simmons enters his first season at Chicago State as Assistant Defensive Line Coach and Director of Player Personnel, bringing more than two decades of coaching and player development experience. A native of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Simmons played collegiately at Lincoln University, Butte Community College and New Mexico Military Institute before competing in arena football from 2002-04. He began his coaching career in 2005 and comes to Chicago State after serving as Head Football Coach at Wendell Phillips Academy in Chicago. Simmons is also the co-founder of Carolina Xposuree Sports Academy, where he has helped mentor and develop student-athletes who have advanced to the collegiate and professional levels. At Chicago State, Simmons assists with the defensive line while playing a key role in player personnel, talent evaluation and roster development.