One of the most successful coaches in Division III history, Bob Simms has led the St. John Fisher men’s and women’s golf programs since 2000.
The Cardinals’ men’s program has dominated the Empire 8 Conference and been immensely successful on the national level over the last 26 years under the 11-time Empire 8 Coach of the Year, six-time Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year and 2007-08 National Coach of the Year. In that span, Fisher has won 89 tournaments, 21 Empire 8 titles, including 14 of the last 15, and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships 17 times. The Cardinals have placed in the top 10 at nationals five times, highlighted by a third-place finish in 2008, when Scott Harris Jr. became the first national champion in school history.
Headlined by Harris, who won the Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer awards for the 2007-08 season, Simms’ men’s players have racked up a massive list of conference, regional and national honors. To date, Simms has coached 10 players who have combined for 16 PING All-America honors, including two first-team honorees, and 33 total PING All-Region selections. The Cardinals have had 13 Empire 8 Player of the Year winners – including four multi-time recipients – and dozens of All-Conference performers.
With the women’s program, Simms has guided the Cardinals to eight tournament wins, including the 2025-26 Empire 8 Invitational, and two runner-up finishes in the Northeast Women’s Golf Conference (NWGC) Championship. Fisher placed second in the Empire 8 Championship twice before joining the NWGC.
Simms has coached two Empire 8 Women’s Golf Players of the Year, including two-time winner Alex Battle, and two Empire 8 Rookies of the Year. Fisher has also had several All-Conference selections under his leadership, including a program-record three first-team honorees in 2025-26.
Very active in the golf communities at the collegiate and national levels, Simms has devoted an incredible amount of time to the sport outside of coaching. He has served on the United States Golf Association (USGA) Committee, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) National Advisory Board, the GCAA Diversity Initiative Committee, the Intercollegiate Relations Committee, the NCAA DIII Men’s Golf Committee and several other committees/boards.
Simms, who coached the Cardinals’ baseball program from 1988-2000, holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. John Fisher.
Tournament Wins Under Simms
Men’s Tournament Wins: 89
Women’s Tournament Wins: 8
Total Career Wins: 97
By The Numbers Under Simms
Empire 8 Men’s Player of the Year Winners: 17... Colin Patterson (2025-26), Ben Fox (2023-24), Nick Tellone (2022-23), Bryce Barber (2021-22), Colin McGaugh (2019-20), Nick Calabrese (2017-18), Corey Haas 2x (2015-16 and 2014-15), Thad Wier III 2x (2013-14 and 2012-13), Tyler McArdell 2x (2011-12 and 2010-11), Scott Harris Jr. 2x (2007-08 and 2006-07), Zach Fuller (2005), Mike Stackus (2004), Jason Baker (2002)
Empire 8 Men’s Rookie of the Year Winners: 11… Nick Years (2024-25), Ben Fox (2022-23), Bryce Barber (2021-22), Benjamin McBane (2020-21), Colin McGaugh (2016-17), Hogan Cuny (2013-14), Corey Haas (2012-13), Chris Blyth (2011-12), Tyler McArdell (2008-09), Tom Muto Jr. (2006-07), Derrick Wong (2003)
Empire 8 Women’s Player of the Year Winners: 3… Emma Sweazy (2025-26), Alex Battle 2x (2010 and 2011)
Empire 8 Women’s Rookie of the Year Winners: 2… Emma Sweazy (2025-26), Taylor Laughinghouse (2015)
Men’s All-Empire 8 Honors Earned: 98 (66 First Team)
Women’s All-Empire 8 Honors Earned: 19 (9 First Team)
PING All-Region Honors Earned: 33
PING All-America Honors Earned: 16… Chris Blyth 3x (2013-15), Corey Haas 2x (2015-16), Scott Harris Jr. 2x (2007-08, 1st-Team ‘08), Tyler McArdell 2x (2011-12, 1st-Team ‘12), Thad Wier III 2x (2012 and 2014), Mike Stackus (2005), Bobby McCartney (2008), Tom Muto Jr. (2008), Joe Radulski (2013), Ryan McGinnis (2014)
Mid-Atlantic Rookie of the Year Winners: 2… Corey Haas (2012-13), Tom Muto Jr. (2006-07)
Jack Nicklaus Award Winners: 1… Scott Harris Jr. (2007-08)
Arnold Palmer Award Winners: 1… Scott Harris Jr. (2007-08)
Academic All-America Honors Earned: 11… Nicholas Calabrese 2x (2018-19), Karl Deuble 2x (2016-17), Jeff Palmerino 2x (2016-17), Thad Wier III 2x (2013-14), Ian Campbell (2016), Joe Feeney (2014), Chris Salone (2016)
Updated 8/19/2026
