Coach Simons started his coaching career at Woodburn high school in 1968. During his coaching years at Woodburn he had 12 Oregon state champions. He left Woodburn high school to start the wrestling program at South Albany high school where he coached 2 state champions. In his 30 years of coaching he had 2 state championship teams & 14 individual state champions. He was voted State 3A coach of the year twice and district coach of the year on two other occasions.

When asked for other academic and professional honors, Coach Simons replied, “I had the privilege of working with the youth in Oregon for 30 years.”

For his dedication and lasting influence on Wrestling, Lamont Simons is presented the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s “Lifetime Achievement to Wrestling” award for the class of 2000.