July 28, 2008

Bill Simon, a McNeese State graduate and former athlete, has been named the university's assistant director of athletics for external affairs.

Athletic director Tommy McClelland made the announcement of the appointment of Simon, who has served as the university's director of recruiting for the past year.

"Bill brings several years of administrative experience to McNeese athletics. His passion for sports as well as for McNeese State will allow him to be very successful in his role. However it is his passion for the student-athlete to succeed that is going to make our department even better.

"I have known Bill for a couple of years now and the one thing that stands out is his energy. He always has a positive outlook on everything that he is involved in. We are very excited to have him on our team."

Simon's new responsibility within the athletic department will be to oversee all areas of fund raising, corporate sponsors and private donations. He will also have oversight of the athletic department's marketing and promotions department and will oversee all ticket campaigns (season and single game).

A native of New Iberia, Simon has served three high schools as principal, his latest such role being at St. Louis High from 2001 to 2007. During that time he led a capital campaign fund drive that raised over $3.1 million. The school also saw an increase in enrollment and won the Class AAA all-sports trophy for 2006-07.

While he was principal at St. Frederick High in Monroe, that school saw an improved ACT composition score for seniors go to 23.7 and there was an increase in enrollment. Enrollment also increased at Vermilion Catholic High in Abbeville while he was principal and the school won the state all-sports title in 1999.

Simon was also a successful high school head football coach and athletic director. At New Iberia High he held those positions and was name the district coach of the year in 1990. He also served as athletic director and head football coach at Vermilion Catholic High, was twice the district coach of the year and compiled a 33-13 won-lost record.

He also served as an assistant coach at New Iberia High, LaGrange High, Catholic High of New Iberia and at McNeese State where he was a four year baseball letterman.

Simon holds both the bachelor and master degree from McNeese and he was a Cum Laude graduate of the university.

As an athlete at McNeese he twice earned all-Southland Conference honors and was named the team MVP in 1975.

He is married and he and wife Sheila have a son, Cody, who is a 2003 marketing graduate of McNeese.