Eric Simmons announced as next Kish Head Softball Coach

Kishwaukee College has announced the hiring of Eric Simmons as the next Head Coach for women’s softball. Simmons, a long-serving area youth softball coach, will take over the program this season with the goal of making it a top spot for local athletes.

“I have been involved in the area for a long time in softball, and I would really like to see the Kish program excel,” Simmons said. “My focus is to make Kish a destination for softball players from the area.”

Simmons has been coaching for 14 years and brings much of his experience from his work with the Sycamore Sycos, a travel softball program for teams ages 10-and-under to 18-and-under. The Sycamore Sycos were started nine years ago, and Simmons currently serves as the program director and has been the head coach for the 18-and-under team. During his time as director, the Sycos have found success at all program levels with tournament wins and national appearances. Simmons also coached for the Northern Illinois Thunder, another local travel softball program, and he was the head coach for the girls softball program at the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora.

The Kish softball program will be Simmons’ first time coaching at the collegiate level, but he has regularly worked with college recruits during his tenure with the Sycos.

“I think coaching at Kish is a natural fit for me. The Sycamore Sycos really draw a lot from the Kish district, and I have had a chance to work with a lot of athletes who have played at Kish and other colleges,” Simmons said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to coach at this level.”

Scott Kawall, Kishwaukee College Athletic Director, saw Simmons’ strong ties to the local community as a strength and benefit to the program moving forward.

“Coach Simmons brings a great deal of softball experience working with high school and college-aged student-athletes. He also has a solid foundation in the Kishwaukee College community and connections with numerous high school programs and travel or club team programs that will assist in the recruiting process while also serving our district student-athletes,” Kawall said. “He shares the passion we are looking to foster with the softball program and aligns with our mission of enhancing the student-athlete experience both on and off the field. I am eager to see Coach Simmons take the program to higher levels.”

As the Kish softball team rebounds from two seasons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Simmons said an initial and long-term goal is to continue the program’s history of success on the field and in the classroom.

“The goal is to make Kish a competitive program year-in and year-out,” Simmons said. “We want to make sure each and every day we are growing and competing.”

While the Kougars are returning a full team for the upcoming season, Simmons said there are still roster spots available for interested student-athletes.

“Kishwaukee College is a great fit for students looking to stay closer to home while getting immersed in college life,” Simmons said. “We can offer our athletes opportunities to play right away while continuing their athletic career at the collegiate level.”

Simmons currently works and lives in Sycamore. He and his wife Kim have three daughters. 

For more information on the Women’s Softball team at Kishwaukee College, contact Eric Simmons at msimmons2@kish.edu or 815-825-9848 or visit www.kishkougars.com. For more information about Kishwaukee College, visit www.kish.edu.