Ari Simmons - Assistant Coach - Fencing Coaches

Ari Simmons

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
ariel.simmons@duke.edu

Ari Simmons joined the Duke fencing staff in September of 2023 as an assistant coach.

Simmons comes to Durham after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy under Elgeziry.

Simmons brings a wealth of experience after a decorated career at Notre Dame where he helped guide the Fighting Irish to three national titles in 2017, 2018 and 2021. As a four-time All-American honoree, he also captured two team ACC Championship titles. As a freshman, he captured gold as the 2017 ACC Men’s Epee Champion.

Simmons has medaled at numerous North American Cups and has been a member of the Cadet, Junior and Senior USA World Championship Teams. Simmons also represented the United States in 32 Senior World Cups/Grand Prix events.

He has been coaching since 2011 and during his time at the Air Force Academy, he helped coach Matthew Han and Jocelyn Ratzlaff to qualify for and compete in the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Fencing Championships.