MONTGOMERY — The AHSAA is saddened to learn of the death of Hall of Fame basketball coach Yvonne Michelle Simmons, 70, who passed on Thursday, Jan. 11, after an extended illness.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Coach Simmons,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs. “She was always a positive influence on everyone around her. Her love for her students and for the sport of basketball was amazing, and she set the standard for excellence for coaches during his many years as a coach and teacher.”

Briggs added, “She has made a major impact on all who knew her. We offer our most sincere condolences and prayers to her family, her extended Montgomery Public Schools family and all her friends in Montgomery County and across the state. We pray God will sustain them during this time of such great loss.”

The Carver-Montgomery High School coaching legend graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery in 1971 and Alabama State University in 1976. She spent her entire teaching and coaching career in the Montgomery County Public School System retiring in 2014.

Simmons got her start at Loveless Junior High in 1972, moved to Floyd Junior High the next year and remained until 1985. Her teams at Floyd won seven city girls’ basketball and two softball championships. She became the Carver girls’ basketball coach in 1985, and for 29 years guided the Wolverines to a 558-237 record, one state title (1993), three state runner-up finishes (1988, 1989, and 2010) and 12 state tourney appearances.

She served as athletic director at Carver from 1998 until her retirement, becoming the first woman to hold such a position in the Montgomery County School System.

Carver principal Gary Hall said at her induction into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 that her impact on the student-athletes would be long-lasting.

“I found Coach Simmons to have a passion for all students at Carver High School and not just the students she coached,” Hall said. “She dedicated almost 30 years of service to the young women and young men at Carver. Her love for the game of basketball made teaching the skills of the game challenging for those she coached.”

Devoted to her community and church, Simmons, in her retirement years, served on the Beulah Baptist Church Health and Welfare Committee.

Funeral arrangements were not available as of Thursday.