Simons welcomes opportunity as SRHS athletic director
SLIPPERY ROCK — Brie Simons figured she made the right decision when she recently accepted the Slippery Rock High School athletic director position.
Once she toured the facilities Thursday, she was sure of it.
“I was like a kid in a candy store,” Simons said as she toured the high school. “The athletic facilities here are absolutely gorgeous. Add to that working with the university right next door ... I can’t wait to get started.”
She’s also excited about being able to concentrate on one job.
A Franklin High School graduate, Simons has served as athletic director and athletic trainer at Lakeview — another District 10 high school — for the past nine years. She also graduated from Slippery Rock University, where she went through the athletic training program, before getting her masters degree in kinesiology from Georgia Southern.
Lakeview won a pair of District 10 football championships during Simons’ tenure there.
“I had done a little work at Lakeview previously,” Simons said. “They called me in 2013 and offered me the opportunity to be both athletic director and athletic trainer. I was 23 and welcomed the chance.”
She took on a full plate in doing so.
Simons spent the morning hours performing her athletic director duties before “putting on a second hat” and moving into the role of athletic trainer.
“Around 2:30 p.m. or so, I’d start taping kids up, getting them ready for practices or games,” she said. “I’d go to the games as athletic director while overseeing things as trainer at the same time.
“It was a commitment that required a lot of time, but I was serious about fulfilling both commitments.”
While doing so, Simons realized one thing. She wasn’t being fair to herself. So when the Slippery Rock job came open, she decided to throw her hat in the ring.
“I showed I can do two jobs good,” she said. “Now I want to do one job great. I fell in love with the Slippery Rock area when I went to school there. It’s a wonderful community that I’m thrilled to be a part of.”
Simons replaces Dan Follett, who officially resigned as athletic director at the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year.
“Great hire ... fantastic hire,” Follett said of Simons. “Brie is the perfect fit there.”
Simons said Follett “did a fantastic job here and I just want to continue what he got going there. I’m in the process of meeting all of the coaches. I’m looking forward to this opportunity. One thing is certain — the kids will always come first.”
