Mike Simonson, who has served as the lead assistant coach for the Seattle Pacific women’s basketball team the past two seasons, has been named the program’s interim head coach.
Simonson steps in for Julie Heisey, who announced her resignation on Monday after 13 years in charge of the Falcons.
“Whenever you’re filling the shoes of someone like Julie, whom I love and respect so much, you just have to maintain the culture of the program moving forward,” Simonson said. “My goal in the interim job is to promote some stability and help guide us through the transition.”
Seattle Pacific athletic director said he was pleased to have Simonson in interim head coach role.
“Mike will provide great leadership, stability, and continuity for our women’s basketball program and our student-athletes,” he said. “Coach Simonson represents the core values of SPU athletics very well, and I am confident he will provide great leadership as we do our due diligence in identifying the next head coach for Falcon women’s basketball.”
Simonson came to Seattle Pacific in 2016 after nine years in various roles with the Washington State University men’s program. The Falcons went 19-11 in 2016-17, then jumped to 23-8 this past season, playing in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament championship game and qualifying for the NCAA West Regionals.
“I’ve loved working for Coach Julie. Through this whole experience, it has been nice to be able to help support her,” Simonson said. “The interim title still hasn’t hit me, but it’s something I’m excited for and I’m glad to be able to do it. I thank Jackson Stava and (SPU) President Dan Martin and Jeff Jordan (the Vice President for Student Life) for having faith in me to step into a role like that so fast.”
At WSU, Simonson started out as a student manager, then moved up to head student manager / video coordinator. After a stint as video assistant, he became the program’s coordinator of operations.
A native of nearby Edmonds and a 2006 graduate of Meadowdale High School, Simonson graduated from WSU in 2011, earning a degree in social sciences with an emphasis on history.
His time with the Cougars included five years working under head coach Ken Bone, who was the head men’s coach at Seattle Pacific for 12 seasons (1990-2002).
http://spufalcons.com/news/2018/6/27/18_wbb_June27.aspx
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