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Margaret Simmons became Murray State’s first head coach of the women’s track and field team in 1968. Three years later she started the women’s cross country team.
During her 23-year tenure as head coach, she led the Racers to eight Ohio Valley Conference titles and two runner-up titles, was named OVC Coach of the Year six times, and was named Kentucky Women’s Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on two occasions. Her cross-country teams never finished lower than 2nd in the OVC after the championship began in 1979.
Simmons served as the women’s editor of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Rules book from 1983-85 and as the editor of the same publication from 1988-2004. She has also had many articles appear in the NAGWS Track and Field Guide during her career. Simmons also served on numerous NCAA committees including NCAA National Cross Country Meets (1981-2004), NCAA Track and Field Sport Committee (1982-2004), NCAA rules committee at the NCAA Indoor Track Meets (1982-2004). She was also an official at the Division II NCAA National Championship in 1983 and 1984. Simmons served as the co-regional chair for Region 3 in cross country regional meets in 1982 and 1983.
While at Murray State, Simmons served as the senior woman administrator from its inception until she retired.
She is a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association hall of Fame, the Murray State University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Today, Simmons continues to serve as a volunteer track coach at Murray High School, supervises student teachers, and pitches in and helps anywhere else on campus or in the community that she can be of assistance.