Kyle Simmons: Call him ‘coach’

WASILLA — Crouched in the center of a huddle, surrounded by the players on his Valley Comp League youth basketball team, Kyle Simmons looks every inch the part of a coach.

Dressed in a shirt and tie, he has his pen and clipboard out, scripting a play, as each young players’ set of eyes are fixed, waiting for their coach’s next call.

But there’s one thing that sets Simmons apart from his Valley Comp League coaching colleagues. Simmons is 17 years old. But despite his age and the fact that his peer group is closer to the players than the coaches, the Wasilla High School junior is getting due attention and respect.

“It’s really the way he communicates with the girls,” said Shelly Woodke, a mother of one of eight seventh-grade girls on Simmons’ Wasilla comp team. “He goes out there, shows the girls the drills. He has his expectations of them.”

Simmons, who has a younger sister on the team, was asked to help out last season. He started attending practices and games, and when the head coach of the team wasn’t available, Simmons would lead the squad.

“He stepped up to the plate,” Woodke said.

With the official head coach of the squad busy with his many other responsibilities, Simmons has assumed the role as the unofficial head coach of the Wasilla competitive seventh-grade team. Even though he’s not listed as the official head coach, Woodke said Simmons has filled that role in every way.

Before his time with the youth team, Simmons said he had no aspirations of coaching. Simmons wrestles and plays baseball at Wasilla.

He played youth basketball from the third grade though his freshman year of high school. Baseball is his favorite sport, Simmons said, but basketball is a close second.

Even though he hadn’t thought of coaching before, Simmons said he was happy to step in and help out.

“My sister’s on the team so all the girls know who I am,” Simmons said. “They all listen and play hard.”

Simmons said he’s taken things taught to him by his own coaches and is passing those lessons down to his players.

“Discipline, hard work pays off in the end,” Simmons said. “Play hard, play tough and play with heart.”

Simmons also balances coaching with his schoolwork and his own sports. That is something that has really impressed the parents of the players, Woodke said.

“He has a full load of studies and his own sports, and he has not missed a practice. He has not missed a game,” Woodke said. “He really puts a lot of heart and soul into it. The girls really respect that.”

Simmons said the response he receives is positive, especially from his players.

“They are all likable, they play hard and hustle. That’s all I can ask for,” Simmons said.

Simmons said his favorite part about coaching is seeing the response from his players.

“I just like to see all the players improve, the smiles when they win or do something right,” Simmons said.

Simmons is not sure where his path will lead him. He knows he’ll coach this team at least one more year. Then his younger sister will be in high school. Then, who knows? For now, Simmons is officially enjoying his time as the unofficial head coach of the squad.