Simon carries on coaching tradition
Saturday, December 3, 2005
By Brian Woodson - Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — It reads like the radio commercial that is so familiar to Bluefield Beavers’ football fans.

Eight state championships, five runner-up finishes, nine undefeated seasons and 38 winning campaigns. Add to that 14 years with at least 10 wins, and a combined record of 361-147-2 for a winning percentage of .708. All that since 1959. Perhaps the most remarkable fact, though, is that the Beavers have had exactly three head coaches in those 46 years.

Few schools, outside of cross-town rival Graham, can compete with that. Fred Simon, who completed his 20th season at Bluefield on Friday when the Beavers lost to Weir in the Class AA state finals, has continued the tradition that began with Merrill Gainer and was carried on by John Chmara.

“We’ve had some fantastic coaches before me, and players,” Simon said. “I think the Bluefield players, the people in this community are winners because I think not only does the coaching come into play, but you’ve got to have the players that want to win and for some reason the players in Bluefield want to win.”

And, they’ve won a lot. Gainer posted a 87-6-1 record from 1959-1967, winning four Class AAA state titles. Chmara followed, compiling a 130-53-1 mark through 1985, capturing two Class AA crowns. Simon has a mark of 144-88 and two more state championships. Over the last 11 years, the Beavers have been to seven state title games.

“It’s a combination of a lot of things, good coaches, good players to work with that are willing to listen and try and that has really been a great success,” Simon said. “We’ve got a lot of people that know how to win in Bluefield.”

Simon got his start in Bluefield. He graduated from Bluefield in 1974, and would then play at Concord for another Hall-of-Fame caliber coach in Tony Colobro. He spent several years at local junior high schools and as a varsity assistant under Chmara. When Chmara stepped down after the 1984 campaign, Simon stepped in.

“I knew I was a hard worker, whether I was a player or a coach and I just knew when I first came up here as a player I had to work my butt off,” Simon said. “If I didn’t perform every week I didn’t start so that kind of got me the grounds of what I am today as far as just working hard and doing the best I can.

“My mom and dad worked very hard, and my dad was very successful. He started out where it was kind of tough and he kept hanging in there so all I’ve ever known from the people that have influenced me is hard work.”

It wasn’t always easy for Simon. From 1985-94, the Beavers were just 47-57, and that included records of 0-10, 1-9 and a pair of 2-8’s.

“I got (the job) at age 30 and I’ve been here 20 years,” said the 50-year-old Simon. “The first 10 were probably a learning experience and growing. Ever since then, the last 10 or so have been pretty good to me, but it wasn’t an easy situation at first.”

It’s gotten much better. Over the last 11 years, Simon’s Beavers are 97-31, with two state titles, five runner-up finishes, and six double-digit win seasons. Hence, the tradition of Bluefield football continues on. And, it’s not just the coaches, but the players and fans revel in that success as well.

“Coming from a tradition school, you’re just expected to do that,” Simon said. “That’s what makes it nice about being from a tradition school. Maybe some of these other schools where they don’t win very often or win in the playoffs or championships, it’s not expected of them.

“I expect it, the coaches here expect it, the players here expect it and hopefully that’s what we get. If not, we’re disappointed. It’s been great, in the last 11 years, we’ve been in seven state championship games, it’s unbelievable.”

Simon admits that he didn’t think the Beavers would be back in Wheeling after last season’s 14-0 campaign that also saw the graduation of nearly two-dozen seniors. Yet, there they were on Friday, one of two Class AA teams still playing the state. An 0-2 start and an 0-2 finish to the regular season were ignored, as Bluefield won three playoff games in a row to get back to Wheeling for a fourth straight season. He credits the two weeks between the final loss to James Monroe and a playoff win against Liberty-Harrison for making the late-season run possible.

“Me, I would love to win them all, but it’s not a matter of winning all the games,” Simon said. “I guess it’s evaluating and seeing why you’re not winning and then working on it and figuring out a way to win. The players listen and they respond and everything works out.”

He added: “It’s the attitude of the players, they really care and they want to win and that’s just goes to show that if you really care and try, you’ve got a chance. There’s are no guarantees, but at least you’ve got a chance.”

With Simon, and the dedication of the Beaver players, they’ll always have a chance.

“I don’t really measure myself, I think God every day for what he has done for me and just work hard,” Simon said. “I try to keep up to date with fundamentals and try to make sure our players know how to play the game and that they play hard and that’s all we can do.”

And, they’ve done it well.

—Contact Brian Woodson bwoodson@bdtonline.com