The University of Memphis has reached a breaking point with its women’s basketball program, and Alex Simmons is out as head coach after three seasons on the bench. Ed Scott, Ph.D., the university’s Senior Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, announced Monday that Simmons will not return next season, ending a tenure that never found its footing in the American Athletic Conference.
Simmons departs with a 30–61 overall record and an 18–36 mark in AAC play, numbers that underscored Memphis’ inability to climb the league ladder. The Tigers finished at the bottom of the conference this season and missed the league tournament, a harsh final data point in an era already short on tangible progress.
Ed Scott’s Call For A Higher Standard
In the university’s announcement, Scott framed the move as the product of a broad review of the program and where it stands. He emphasized that Memphis remains committed to building a team that can compete at the top of the AAC and reflects the pride of the campus and city.
“Following a comprehensive evaluation of our women’s basketball program, we believe this is the right time for a leadership change,” Scott said. “We remain committed to building a program that competes at the highest level of our conference and reflects the pride and passion of the University of Memphis community. We have made meaningful investments in women’s basketball and are grateful for the strong support from our fans and donors.”
Scott also made a point to thank his departing coach. “I want to thank Coach Simmons for her dedication to our student-athletes and for her service to the University of Memphis, and we wish her and her family the very best in the future,” he said.
Recent Comments Did Not Help Her Cause
While the record ultimately drove the decision, Simmons’ recent public comments about her future and about Memphis itself did not help her standing. Asked late in the season about speculation surrounding her job status, Simmons conceded she had not been given any clarity.
“I haven’t had any conversations with Ed about my future,” she said. “Right now I’m just focused on these players and trying to finish the season the right way.”
She also spoke candidly about the perception of the job and the city. “Memphis is a place that not a lot of people want to come to,” Simmons said. “But I chose to come here. I believe in these kids, and I want to be here.”
On their own, those words sounded like a coach trying to defend her commitment in a difficult situation. In context, with the team sitting at the bottom of the league and missing the conference tournament, they landed poorly with a fan base already frustrated by results. For a city fiercely protective of its image, the line about “not a lot of people want to come to” Memphis became a lightning rod.
In a department that has spent the last several years selling momentum, investment, and upward trajectory, the tone of those comments cut against the message from the top. They were not the sole reason for the move, but they certainly did not strengthen her case at the end of a 30–61 run.
Pillow Steps In As Memphis Launches National Search
Assistant coach Shalon Pillow will assume oversight of the program during the transition, providing a measure of continuity for players navigating uncertainty in the wake of the change. Her job in the short term will be to stabilize the locker room, manage offseason plans, and hold together recruiting efforts while the Tigers look for their next leader.
Memphis has retained Renaissance Search and Consulting to lead what is being billed as a national search for a new head coach. With solid resources compared to many AAC peers and a strong regional recruiting base, the job remains an intriguing opportunity for coaches who believe they can turn a dormant program into a contender.
End Of One Chapter, Pressure On The Next
Simmons arrived in Memphis with the résumé of a rising coach, fresh off previous success and carrying the pedigree of a former Tennessee player. She talked often about building a foundation and laying groundwork for the future, and at times her teams reflected that belief.
“We’re trying to create something that lasts,” she said earlier this season. “It doesn’t always show up in the win column right away, but we want to build this the right way.”
Three seasons later, Memphis still has not been back to the NCAA Tournament since 1998, and the gap between ambition and reality remains wide. Now the pressure shifts to Scott and the Memphis administration to find someone who can match their rhetoric about competing at the top of the AAC.
The next coach will inherit a program that has resources, visibility, and a fan base eager for a reason to care again, along with a clear reminder of what happens when the results and the messaging no longer align.
