Putting his wanderlust aside, Aaron Simmons is returning to Dunlap.
"Yep, I'm going back home finally," he said.
Most recently a graduate assistant for national NAIA power Lee University, Simmons will be teaching at Sequatchie County High School and coaching the Indians' baseball team.
"It was a big decision to make, but I decided that was the best place to be," he said.
Simmons signed with Motlow State upon graduating from Sequatchie and redshirted a year there before moving to Chattanooga State. He then went to Lee as an invited walk-on and 10 games into his first season became the Flames' starting first baseman for two years.
However, upon completing his eligibility, Simmons felt the desire to continue playing baseball and spent a year in independent ball in Florida with the Charlotte County Redfish.
"I learned a lot that year. Cecil Fielder was my manager," he said.
After spending a season playing for the former major league slugger, though, Simmons decided to return to Lee, where he helped Flames coach Mark Brew for two years while finishing requirements for a degree.
During his three years at Lee as a player and coach, the Flames finished fourth, second and third in the NAIA World Series.
"The season in 2007 was probably my best as a player," he said.
He hit .410 that year and set a school record with 72 RBIs.
"It didn't last long, though. Somebody broke it the next year," he said.
With school out of the way this summer, Simmons applied for the job at Sequatchie County, where he had played and where his father, Al, is the athletic director. He doesn't see that being a problem, having taken orders from his dad most of his life, and Sequatchie principal Tommy Layne made it clear that he purposely kept Al out of the interview process.
"This was my decision alone," Layne said. "I really appreciate Coach (Al) Simmons, but I didn't think it was fair to him or to Aaron to make any kind of decision concerning Aaron. We did a complete search and went every which way.
"I felt it was time to get back to our roots. The only problem Aaron will have is filling the shoes of Shane Roberson. Shane did a tremendous job, as good as any coach I have been around. It was unfortunate for us that the teaching position for him wasn't there. He did a super job, and somebody is going to get a really good baseball job."
Layne said he has no fears about the kind of job the younger Simmons will do.
"He'll do a great job. I won't have to worry about a thing. He's a good person and he is getting a pretty good program," the principal said.
"They haven't won a district championship since 2000, but the program is starting to come around," said Aaron Simmons, who is coaching the 18-under Chattanooga Cyclones this summer. "One thing I harp on is a high level of intensity. I want the guys hustling on and off the field.
"I stress fundamentals and a team concept. Baseball is kind of an individual game, but nobody is going to be individualized. We're going to play as a team."
