Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: CLARK_UNIVERSITY
Tyler Simms Joins Bucknell Men’s Basketball Staff
6/9/2026 1:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell head men's basketball coach John Griffin III has announced the addition of Tyler Simms to the staff as an assistant coach. Simms has spent the last seven seasons as head coach at Division III Clark University in Worcester, Mass., where he compiled a record of 91-68 and led the Cougars to a conference championship in 2025.
Simms was appointed head coach at Clark in June of 2019, and he guided the Cougars to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament appearances in each of the last five seasons. In 2025, his squad defeated WPI 80-65 to claim the program's first NEWMAC title since 2010 and lock up its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance.
Simms inherited a team that was coming off a 5-20 season in 2018-19. After upping the win total to eight in his first season and then seeing the 2020-21 campaign wiped out by COVID, his teams averaged nearly 17 victories per season over the last five years, including a 20-win showing and a berth in the NEWMAC Tournament final in 2023-24.
Prior to his stint at Clark, Simms served as an assistant coach at Brown for four seasons and at Trinity, his alma mater, for two seasons. While at Brown, the Bears finished as high as fourth in the Ivy League in 2018-19, when they went 20-12, set the program wins record, and defeated UAB in the first round of the CBI. As an assistant coach at Trinity, the Bantams won the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) regular season title and advanced all the way to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2014-15.
"I am excited to welcome Tyler, his wife Kristin, and their two children to Lewisburg and the Bucknell basketball family," said Griffin. "Tyler joins us after a phenomenal head coaching run at Clark, highlighted by their 2025 NEWMAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. His extensive background at prestigious institutions like Brown and Trinity reflects a deep understanding of the high-academic landscape. Throughout his career, he has proven an exceptional ability to recruit high-level student-athletes and build winning cultures. Tyler's competitive pedigree and leadership will be incredible assets fitting in seamlessly with our development-minded staff and be a tremendous asset as we pursue Patriot League championships."
A native of Bourne, Mass., Simms graduated from Trinity in 2008 with a degree in educational studies. He was a four-year member of the team and served as captain as a senior. During his career, the Bantams went 79-25 and won the NESCAC Tournament championship for the first time in school history in 2007-08. Simms was named to the NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team during his senior season and also earned the John Kelley Award for "commitment and sacrifice to his teammates and program."
Following graduation, he worked as an assistant coach at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Massachusetts. He also held the position of program director for Basketball, LLC, a company that runs AAU and high school events for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
Simms later served as a graduate assistant at Mercyhurst University from 2009-11. In this role, Simms assisted in all aspects of the Mercyhurst program, from on-court coaching, advanced scouting and recruiting, to game preparation and individual player development. He was also the director of basketball operations at Siena from 2011-13.
Simms was appointed head coach at Clark in June of 2019, and he guided the Cougars to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament appearances in each of the last five seasons. In 2025, his squad defeated WPI 80-65 to claim the program's first NEWMAC title since 2010 and lock up its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance.
Simms inherited a team that was coming off a 5-20 season in 2018-19. After upping the win total to eight in his first season and then seeing the 2020-21 campaign wiped out by COVID, his teams averaged nearly 17 victories per season over the last five years, including a 20-win showing and a berth in the NEWMAC Tournament final in 2023-24.Prior to his stint at Clark, Simms served as an assistant coach at Brown for four seasons and at Trinity, his alma mater, for two seasons. While at Brown, the Bears finished as high as fourth in the Ivy League in 2018-19, when they went 20-12, set the program wins record, and defeated UAB in the first round of the CBI. As an assistant coach at Trinity, the Bantams won the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) regular season title and advanced all the way to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2014-15.
"I am excited to welcome Tyler, his wife Kristin, and their two children to Lewisburg and the Bucknell basketball family," said Griffin. "Tyler joins us after a phenomenal head coaching run at Clark, highlighted by their 2025 NEWMAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. His extensive background at prestigious institutions like Brown and Trinity reflects a deep understanding of the high-academic landscape. Throughout his career, he has proven an exceptional ability to recruit high-level student-athletes and build winning cultures. Tyler's competitive pedigree and leadership will be incredible assets fitting in seamlessly with our development-minded staff and be a tremendous asset as we pursue Patriot League championships."
A native of Bourne, Mass., Simms graduated from Trinity in 2008 with a degree in educational studies. He was a four-year member of the team and served as captain as a senior. During his career, the Bantams went 79-25 and won the NESCAC Tournament championship for the first time in school history in 2007-08. Simms was named to the NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team during his senior season and also earned the John Kelley Award for "commitment and sacrifice to his teammates and program."
Following graduation, he worked as an assistant coach at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Massachusetts. He also held the position of program director for Basketball, LLC, a company that runs AAU and high school events for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
Simms later served as a graduate assistant at Mercyhurst University from 2009-11. In this role, Simms assisted in all aspects of the Mercyhurst program, from on-court coaching, advanced scouting and recruiting, to game preparation and individual player development. He was also the director of basketball operations at Siena from 2011-13.
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