Pat Simpson
Father Ryan High School
Impact Statement
Simpson has coached teams to 20 State Titles over his career thus far.
Biography
A 1974 Father Ryan graduate, Simpson was a state runner-up as a senior, helping lead the Irish to a team state title. He returned to Father Ryan as head coach for the 1979-80 season, elevating an already-established sport to state powerhouse status.
In his 33 years on the bench, Simpson has led Father Ryan to 15 state team titles – seven dual titles and eight individual titles – and coached 59 individual state champions. The Irish picked up their 15th title this year in the Division 2 individual state meet. The school now owns almost as many state team titles in wrestling (19) as in all other sports combined (21). Simpson’s teams were Division 2 double champions in 1998 and 2000. His teams also won a Small Division dual title in 1989, a Large Division dual title in 1996 and Division 2 titles in 1999, 2004 and 2010, along with open individual titles in 1987 and 1988 and Division 2 crowns in 2003, 2008 and 2009.
The long-time assistant football coach teaches wellness and social science, and also recently became the school’s athletic director. A 1979 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) with a M.Ed. from Tennessee State University, Simpson was the Western Region champion and an NCAA qualifier in 1979.
A member of the Tennessee chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Simpson and his brother, Frank, the head coach at rival Montgomery Bell Academy, were part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class of the MTSU Wrestling Foundation earlier this year.
Since being honored in 2012, Simpson continues to lead Father Ryan.
Father Ryan’s team won another handful of state titles from 2014 until 2017. In 2016, Simpson was honored as the USA Today’s Coach of the Year and the NWCA Coach of the Year. Additionally, the team finished second in 2013 and 4th from 2018-2020.
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