Jon Simmons joined the Great Danes in the summer of 2021 and now serves as the team's Director of Football Operations. In this role, Simmons works directly with Head Coach Greg Gattuso and the rest of the coaching staff in all aspects of the football program pertaining to operations. This includes oversight of day-to-day operations, recruiting efforts, team calendars, team travel, program budget, and serving as the football liaison to various departments within UAlbany Athletics.
Simmons graduated from the University of Michigan in 2017 with a degree in sociology. He later earned his master’s degree from Cortland in 2019 while working with the football team as an Operations Intern. In that role, Simmons assisted with recruiting efforts, scouting, logistics, film, and charting plays. Following the completion of his master’s, he went on to work for the Garden City Community College football program as the team’s Head Operations Manager from 2020 to 2021. Simmons played a major role in overseeing all video operations, equipment and travel logistics, and supervision of student managers.
Simmons originally joined the Great Danes in 2021 as the team’s Video Coordinator. In his first season with UAlbany, he oversaw all coaches film, led film exchange with competing teams, assisted with operations, and led the team’s student managers.
