Simonds named new IU assoicate baseball coach

The IU baseball team confirmed reports Monday morning that Miami Head Coach Dan Simonds will be the new IU associate head coach under IU Coach Tracy Smith.

Simonds will be the hitting and catching coach. Ben Greenspan will take over as the recruiting coordinator.

Multiple media outlets reported the move Saturday.

The hire reunites Smith and Simonds, who have previously coached together.

Simonds was an assistant at Miami under Smith from 2000-2004. When Smith left Miami for IU in 2006, Simonds was named head coach of the RedHawks.

In 2005, he was the head coach at Xavier.

While an assistant under Smith at Miami, Simonds was the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator.

The associate head coaching job opened up after Ty Neal left IU to become Cincinnati’s new head coach. Neal had been with Smith since 2005.

In eight seasons as Miami’s coach, Simonds compiled a record of 232-222.

Smith and Simonds combined to help the RedHawks win 40 games in 2000, winning the MAC conference tournament crown.

Simonds, a Boston native, graduated from Davidson College in 1987 and was an eighth-round draft choice of the Baltimore Orioles.

He spent time coaching in the minor leagues as well, managing the Class A Ft. Wayne Wizards in 1999.

He began his coaching career in 1992 as an assistant coach and bullpen catcher for the Chicago Cubs.