Wrestling chair for Simmons

Cornell’s long history of wrestling excellence has a new chapter—this time in the administration.

Dick Simmons, associate athletics director, is the chair of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Committee. Simmons heads a committee of four coaches and administrators.

“I’m honored to be selected by the committee members,” said Simmons, the tournament director for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Division III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids. “This was a surprise. I think what really helped was my experience with wrestling, three years of hosting the national championships. It’s going to be fun.”

As a committee member, Simmons oversees the Division III Wrestling Championships and assists with the Division I Championships. He also tackles issues and rule changes with the sport of wrestling and in regards to Division III. Among them, next year’s Division III qualifying-tournaments move to six regionals with 30 automatic qualifiers from each site.

Simmons will again serve as tournament director when Cornell hosts the Division III Wrestling Championships in 2013 and 2014 in Cedar Rapids.
Simmons has been at Cornell for 22 years.