Downey, Simmons Join S-A Experience Division as Assoc. ADs

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two new associate athletics directors – Paul Downey and Stephanie Simmons – have joined UK Athletics’ newly formed Student-Athlete Experience division.
 
“Paul and Stephanie are great additions to our Student-Athlete Experience team,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “They share our commitment to enrich the lives of our student-athletes in all facets of life and their expertise and dedication will be essential as we work to do exactly that.”
 
Dr. Downey will serve as associate athletics director for academics, joining a Center for Academic and Tutorial Services team that has helped guide Wildcat student-athletes to 12 consecutive semesters with a cumulative grade-point average of better than 3.0. He comes from Illinois State, where he has served as the Senior Associate Athletics Director/Academics and Life Skills since 2012. Illinois State student-athletes set a new semester GPA record of 3.24 during the spring 2018 semester, topping the previous mark of 3.23 set during the previous four semesters.
 
“Our first priority was to build the team, and I couldn’t be more excited about these two additions,” Executive Associate Athletics Director Jason Cummins said. “Paul is a proven leader whose past experiences and vision for student-athlete success will help shape the holistic developmental experience within UK Athletics.” 
 
Simmons will be UK’s associate athletics director for life performance, leading the athletics department’s efforts in providing challenging opportunities for growth for student-athletes. She moves into the role after serving successfully as associate athletics director for administration and performance, where she oversaw UK’s strength and conditioning and nutrition areas.
 
“I’ve had the privilege to work directly with Stephanie for the last five years, and I’ve witnessed first-hand her commitment to students, their development, and their success,” Cummins said. “She, along with Paul and our continued partnership with Horizon Performance, will help create the country’s foremost developmental center within collegiate athletics.”
 
Cummins was tabbed to head UK’s Student-Athlete Experience division in June. The division is tasked with building on Kentucky’s long-standing reputation for setting the standard for the academic support of student-athletes. The new division also signals UK Athletics’ renewed commitment to preparing student-athletes to enter life after UK by equipping them with the requisite leadership and professional skills and helping them identify and pursue internship and work opportunities.
 
Downey and Simmons are both well suited for the division’s mission. In addition to Illinois State setting records for GPA and Graduation Success Rate during his tenure, Downey is also a leader with the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A). He is in the middle of a two-year term as chair of the Legislative Services Committee and second term as Region III Director of N4A. Simmons has more than two decades working directly with student-athletes, first as a strength and conditioning coach and later as an administrator. She was primarily responsible for the launch of My New Kentucky Home last summer, the summer orientation program that helps freshmen make the transition to life as a Kentucky student-athlete.