After spending a quarter-century on the Colorado Front Range, Harold Simmons did not expect to uproot his family for a new coaching opportunity. But a phone call from Idaho State University changed his thinking in a matter of days.
Simmons has been named head softball coach at Idaho State University in Pocatello, filling the vacancy created when longtime coach Andrew Rich departed for Boise State on June 17. The hire unfolded at a rapid pace: Athletic Director Pauline Thiros reached out to Simmons before the end of that same week, a Zoom call followed just 16 hours later, and Simmons was on a plane to Pocatello the following Monday. Three days after his campus visit, Thiros made the hiring official.
Simmons, who will turn 47 in August, comes to ISU after serving as an assistant at the University of Northern Colorado under head coaches Ben Garcia and, after Garcia’s retirement, Dedeann Pendleton-Helm. Northern Colorado won the Big Sky Conference regular season championship in 2024 and claimed back-to-back postseason titles in 2023 and 2024, giving Simmons direct experience in a conference he will now compete in from the other sideline.
From Colorado Baseball Diamonds to Pocatello Softball
Simmons spent 12 years coaching baseball at Erie High School, located about 28 miles north of Denver, before transitioning to college softball. While at Erie, he worked alongside Colorado coaching legend Bob Bledsoe, who guided the school’s girls softball program to 11 state championships. That environment shaped Simmons’ understanding of what a successful program looks like from the ground up.
His move to Pocatello also means relocating his two daughters — currently in seventh grade and as a sophomore — away from the only Colorado community they have known. Simmons acknowledged that leaving was not a decision he took lightly. “It’s going to take a pretty cool opportunity to do that,” he said. “That came along.”
What drew him in, he said, was what he witnessed during his campus visit. “I got a chance to see how well they were supported, how much the community loved and cared about them,” Simmons said. “It’s an electric atmosphere.”
Stepping Into a Program With Momentum
The Idaho State softball program Simmons inherits is coming off one of its strongest stretches in program history. Under Andrew Rich, the Bengals won three regular season Big Sky Conference championships and reached the NCAA Tournament last season. ISU also hosted the first-ever Big Sky postseason tournament in Pocatello during that same run, a milestone that underscored the program’s growing stature within the conference.
Simmons now faces the challenge of sustaining that momentum while managing some roster turnover. Big Sky pitcher of the year Marley Goluskin and pitcher Lizzy Tommasini have both entered the transfer portal following Rich’s departure, a common occurrence when coaching changes happen mid-calendar year.
His contract runs three years — the maximum length permitted under Idaho State Board of Education policy — and carries a base salary of $91,000, with performance incentives available up to $54,000.
ISU is no stranger to recognizing achievement in its athletic programs. The university recently named seven individuals to its 2026 Sports Hall of Fame, reflecting the depth of Bengal athletic tradition that Simmons is now joining.
What Comes Next
Simmons will work quickly to stabilize the roster ahead of the upcoming season, with transfer portal management and recruiting among his most immediate priorities. The program’s recent NCAA Tournament appearance and its established following in Pocatello give him a foundation to build on, but retaining key players and bringing in new talent will define the early months of his tenure.
Idaho State University, which recently marked 125 years with renewed commitments to Idaho workforce and community development, continues to invest in its athletic programs as part of the broader university mission. For Simmons, the move to Southeast Idaho represents not just a new job, but a new chapter — one that moved from a cold call to a signed contract in less than two weeks.