| Duane Simpkins | |
| Current Title: | Head coach |
| Current Team: | American |
| Current Conference: | Patriot League |
| Birth Date: | 9 April 1974 |
| Player Years1: | 1992–1996 |
| Player Team1: | Maryland |
| Coach Years1: | 1999–2000 |
| Coach Team1: | Bishop O'Connell HS (assistant) |
| Coach Years2: | 2005–2007 |
| Coach Years3: | 2007–2011 |
| Admin Years1: | 2011–2012 |
| Admin Team1: | Towson (coordinator of basketball operations) |
| Coach Years4: | 2012–2015 |
| Coach Team4: | UNC Greensboro (assistant) |
| Coach Years5: | 2015–2023 |
| Coach Team5: | George Mason (assistant) |
| Coach Years6: | 2023–present |
| Coach Team6: | American |
Duane Simpkins (born April 9, 1974) is an American college basketball coach who serves as the head coach of the American Eagles men's basketball team.[1]
Simpkins played high school basketball at DeMatha Catholic High School under Hall of Fame head coach Morgan Wootten and was a McDonald's High School All-American selection in 1992.[1] He played his college basketball at Maryland under Gary Williams where he was a three-year starter and part of a trio of NCAA tournament appearances with the Terrapins.[2]
Simpkins embarked on a professional career from 1997 to 2003, playing the USBL and ABA, as well as in various teams abroad including Olimpia Milano in Italy during the 2002–2003 season and Shandong in China in 2003.[1] [3]
In between his playing career, Simpkins served as an assistant coach at Bishop O'Connell High School from 1999 to 2000. After his playing career, Simpkins was hired as the head boys' basketball coach at Sidwell Friends School in 2005, and served there before becoming the head coach of the boys basketball team at St. Albans School in 2007.
His first coaching opportunity in the college ranks came with Towson, where he was hired as the coordinator of basketball operations under Pat Skerry in 2011.[4] After a single season with the Tigers, Simpkins became an assistant coach at UNC Greensboro where he worked under Wes Miller from 2012 to 2015.[5] He'd return closer to the DMV area and join the staff at George Mason where he'd serve under both Dave Paulsen and Kim English from 2015 until 2023.[6]
On April 1, 2023, Simpkins was hired to be the next head coach for the American Eagles.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]