Wright State University Athletics

Jaaron Simmons joined the Wright State men's basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach in April 2024.

Simmons came to Wright State after spending the previous five seasons at the University of Michigan following a playing career with the Wolverines and at Ohio University. Originally a graduate assistant in the 2019-20 season, he was elevated to the program's video analyst and on court instructor the last five seasons. Simmons assisted with all practice and game planning, scouting reports and recruiting activities while also conducting individual and group on-court skill and film sessions with Michigan.

No stranger to the area, Simmons prepped at Archbishop Alter High School under Joe Petrocelli, where he is the all-time leading scorer, as well as GCL, history and is second in career assists. He was just the sixth player in school history to score 1,000 points or more during his career that saw him named an Associated Press Division II All-Ohio third team (2011) and special mention (2013) member, while he was also a two-time GCL North Player of the Year (2011 & 2013) and a three-time GCL North Division first team (2011, 2012, 2013) performer.
 
The first ever graduate transfer at Michigan, Simmons played one season for the Wolverines (2017-18) as the team won the Big Ten Tournament title, recorded a program-best 33 wins and advanced to the Final Four and national title game. Prior to his transfer to Michigan, Simmons played at Ohio for two seasons (2015-17) after starting his collegiate career at Houston. An All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) first team (2017) and second team (2016) player at Ohio, Simmons ranks fourth all-time at Ohio with 475 career assists and set Ohio's program and Mid-American Conference single season record with 275 assists in the 2015-16 season. He was the 37th player in Ohio history to surpass 1,000 points, finishing with 1,034 points scored after he tallied double figures in 53 of his 66 games played with 20 contests with 20-plus points and four 30-plus point performances.
 
Simmons graduated from Ohio with a bachelor's degree for specialized studies in 2017. In 2021, he completed work for his master's degree for social work at Michigan. Simmons and his girlfriend, Ronequa (Mallory) have one daughter together, Romera.