Southern Utah’s Todd Simon accepts men’s head basketball post at Bowling Green

Coach Todd Simon consults with his staff during a timeout of the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball championship game at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Saturday, March 11, 2023. Simon announced Wednesday, March 15, he's leaving SUU for Bowling Green State University | Photo courtesy of Western Athletic Conference, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — In describing the 2022-23 Southern Utah University men’s basketball season, Coach Todd Simon told St. George News, “It was a journey.”

Coach Todd Simon discusses strategy during a timeout of the Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball championship game at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Saturday, March 11, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Western Athletic Conference, St. George News

He also said the journey wasn’t over — that the Thunderbirds had post-season business to address in the College Basketball Invitational in Daytona, Florida.

Simon’s journey will continue — only now, it will be at Bowling Green State University.

After seven seasons as Southern Utah’s head coach, Simon announced he’ll be leaving the Cedar City campus and heading to northwestern Ohio to coach the Falcons in the Mid-American Conference.

“It was an honor and privilege to serve Southern Utah University for the past seven years,” Simon said in an SUU Athletics news release. “My family and I have also grown our family here and built lifelong relationships.

“We are extremely grateful for all of the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, students, faculty, fans and alumni that have had a hand in building a perennial 20-win program that has elevated conferences and competed for championships.”

According to the news release, Southern Utah immediately will begin the search process, and associate head coach Flynn Clayman will lead the Thunderbirds in the CBI. SUU faces the University of North Alabama Saturday, March 18. Southern Utah played for the Western Athletic Conference title Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, but lost to Grand Canyon University 84-66.

Before the news broke about his imminent departure, Simon told St. George News Monday that he was “genuinely proud” of the Thunderbirds, who finished 22-12 overall and made a conference tournament run, which included back-to-back one-point wins Thursday and Friday, including a thriller over rival Utah Valley in the semi-finals.

Southern Utah University fans were out in force at the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., Friday, March 10, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Western Athletic Conference, St. George News

“At the 16-minute mark, we were down 23, and in the huddle, there were no long faces,” Simon said. “We left that huddle, fully believing we were going to win. I literally told the staff when the players were walking back on the floor, we’re going to win this game.”

And they did, when Tevian Jones hit a 3-pointer and free throw with 4 seconds on the clock to seal the semi-final victory.

When Simon took over the Southern Utah program in 2016, the team went 6-27 overall, the news release said. Simon led the Thunderbirds to an 82-43 record beginning with the 2019-20 season.

A Bowling Green Athletics news release described Simon as “a head coach who not only achieves success on the basketball court but who displays moral integrity off the court as well.”

This was echoed by BGSU Athletic Director Derek van der Merwe.

“He is highly respected by his peers around the country,” van der Merwe said in a news release. “He is a coach who is committed to the student-athlete, the student experience and truly values the educational process. He embraces the academic mission of the university. He knows how to build a successful program, and he loves to win.”

Simon said in a text to St. George News on Thursday that his approach to rebuilding a team that went 11-20 overall and 5-13 in conference in 2022-23 would involve a formula that has worked before.

“I think we establish that buy-in through creating belief in our system,” Simon said. “Our work ethic and preparation will be important for building that confidence.”

Southern Utah Athletic Director Doug Knuth said Simon and his family made an impact on the community.

“While we will miss them as colleagues and friends, we wish them all the best in their return to the Midwest and know they will be SUU fans and friends for life,” Knuth said in the news release. “We thank them for their service to our student-athletes, athletic department and university.”

Often when coaches move on to other programs, the coaching staff moves with them. St. George News asked Simon whether this would be the case and if any players might enter the transfer portal and join him at Bowling Green.

“Still [to be determined] as we let the dust settle,” he wrote in a text.

Simon also said the decision to move on wasn’t an easy one.

“Leaving Southern Utah was very difficult because we love the people there and the university,” he said. “From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you Southern Utah, and thank you Cedar City for embracing us and believing in our vision.”

Updated March 16, 2023, 5:50 p.m.: Adds additional quotes from Simon about inheriting the Bowling Green program, his decision to move on and whether staff and players would follow.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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