Kentucky Basketball mourns the passing of former athletic trainer Chris Simmons

by: Drew Franklin01/18/23DrewFranklinKSR

chris-simmons-kentucky-athletic-trainer — (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Today the Kentucky Basketball family mourns the passing of the team’s former athletic trainer, Chris Simmons, who spent a decade with John Calipari in Lexington. Simmons followed Calipari from Memphis, his alma mater, and worked as the Wildcats’ head athletic trainer from 2009-10 until 2018-19, part of four Final Four runs and the 2012 national championship.

Calipari announced the news of Simmons’ death Wednesday morning.

“Chris Simmons, our trainer at Memphis who came w/ me here, passed away. He was old-school & would sleep in the dorm if it helped kids get ready to play. Never babied them but always protected. I loved him like a brother and appreciate everything he did for my family. RIP, Chris.”

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Simmons was 44 years old.

Chris Simmons, our trainer at Memphis who came w/ me here, passed away. He was old-school & would sleep in the dorm if it helped kids get ready to play. Never babied them but always protected.

I loved him like a brother and appreciate everything he did for my family. RIP, Chris. pic.twitter.com/rmFvLSqvpK
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) January 18, 2023

Joining Calipari in remembering Chris, several other former Kentucky players and coaches expressed their condolences and their feelings about Chris.

Kenny Payne tweeted, “Sad today to hear about the loss of my brother Chris Simmons. Prayers are with his family. RIP Brother. We lost a real one.”

Sad today to hear about the loss of my brother Chris Simmons. Prayers are with his family. RIP Brother. We lost a real one 🙏
— Kenny Payne (@coachkennypayne) January 18, 2023

Many others too:

Gonna miss you Chief 🙏🏽 https://t.co/UOrHTuI4Fx
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) January 18, 2023

Man!!! That is sad news!!
— Josh Harrellson (@BigJorts55) January 18, 2023

Damn this is tragic. Ran into a lot of good people during my career, without a doubt one of the best. Rest in peace chief 🙏🏼 https://t.co/hgt5yG4RK6
— Kyle Wiltjer (@kwiltj) January 18, 2023

Such a sad day. The best in the business. He just came to visit me in Mt. Pleasant in October. I had no idea he was coming to Michigan and he just popped up and surprised me at one of my practices. Put a big smile on my face to see him. That’s the impact he had on everyone. 🙏💔 https://t.co/lc88UISrkX
— Tony Barbee (@CoachTonyBarbee) January 18, 2023