Larry Simmons is a graduate of Hayden High School where he participated in football and basketball for three years. He later graduated from Jacksonville State University.

Simmons became the head football coach at Hayden in the fall of 1965 where he stayed for three seasons. He moved over to Thompson High School where he took a position as an assistant football coach in 1968.

In 1971, Simmons accepted the head coaching position at Thompson and remained as the head coach until his retirement from the football field following the 1982 season.

His 1982 Warriors won the AHSAA State 3A Football Championship with a 14-11 win over Oxford High School. Coach Simmons' football teams at Thompson compiled a 98-32-1 and six playoff appearances.

Simmons was named Class 3A State Coach of the Year in 1982 and he coached in the North-South All-Star game twice, once as head coach.

He served in administration for nine years, seven as Thompson principal (1986-92). He also served on the AHSAA district board and as president of the Shelby County Coaches Association. The Thompson football stadium is named in his honor.

Simmons was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame. He went into sporting goods sales after retiring in 1992.