John "Hi" Simmons was the head baseball coach at the University of Missouri

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...

 from 1937 until 1973. During his tenure, Missouri won one national championship, finished runner-up three other times, appeared in six College World Series

College World Series

The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...

 and won 11 conference titles. Simmons' Missouri team won the 1954 College World Series

1954 College World Series

The 1954 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 10 to June 16. The eighth tournament's champion was Missouri, coached by John "Hi" Simmons...

 and finished as runners-up in 1952

1952 College World Series

The 1952 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 13 to June 17. The sixth tournament's champion was Holy Cross, coached by Jack Barry. The Most Outstanding Player was Jim O'Neill of Holy Cross....

, 1958

1958 College World Series

The NCAA Men's Division I College World Series involved 8 schools playing in double-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college baseball. It began on June 13, and ended with the championship game on June 19...

 and 1964

1964 College World Series

The 1964 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 8 to June 18. The eighteenth tournament's champion was the University of Minnesota, coached by Dick Siebert...

. He also served as a football assistant coach under Don Faurot

Don Faurot

Donald Burrows Faurot was an American football and basketball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, now Truman State University, from 1926 to 1934 and at the University of Missouri from 1935 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1956...

. Simmons was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, USA, showcases sports memorabilia of Missouri athletes and interactive displays.-Inductees:-External links:*...

 in 1977, the University of Missouri Hall of Fame in 1990, and is also a member of the ABCA Hall of Fame. The field at Taylor Stadium

Taylor Stadium

Ralph and Debbie Taylor Stadium at Simmons Field is a baseball stadium in Columbia, Missouri. It is the home field of the University of Missouri baseball team. It was also the home of the defunct Mid-Missouri Mavericks minor league baseball team of the Frontier League.It originally opened in...

is named Simmons Field in his honor.