william simmons

Simmons Hired as Ireton’s New Athletic Director

Special to the HERALD
(From the Issue of 4/26/07)

Bishop Ireton High School principal Father Matthew Hillyard, O.S.F.S., announced April 20 that he has hired W. William Simmons to replace outgoing athletic director Mark Heiser, effective July 1. Simmons currently serves as Ireton’s dean of students. Heiser has accepted the position of director of athletics at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tenn.
A retired Marine officer, Simmons joined Ireton in 1999 as the business manager and became dean of students in 2001. He is a 1976 physical education graduate of Iowa State University and received a master’s degree in Catholic school leadership in 2005 from Marymount University in Arlington. He is married to the former Maureen Nilsen and they have three children, including two Ireton graduates.
“Bill is extremely familiar with our school community and is blessed with great enthusiasm and a strong work ethic,” Father Hillyard said. “He has worked closely with Mark Heiser and me on a number of athletic issues and I am very confident he will lead the program in a manner that will represent Bishop Ireton in a first class manner.”
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Ireton athletics,” Simmons said. “I have a strong attachment to the school and the students. Mark Heiser has done a superb job; one only needs look around at the facilities for one example of his performance. I hope to continue the improvement of this important element of students’ high school experience and see our athletes and coaches competing successfully at the highest level in a premier athletic conference. There is much to do and I can’t wait to get started.”
Ireton is a member of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. The school has 39 teams in 20 sports programs for our young men and women.