[3][4] Simons attended Tulane University, where he played football as the team's "star kicking and passing halfback,"[5] and earned varsity letters from 1932 to 1934.

[6] During the 1934 season, Simons scored a touchdown in the final three minutes to defeat rival LSU by a single point, causing his mother to faint.

[7] Simons helped lead Tulane to a comeback win over Pop Warner's Temple in the inaugural Sugar Bowl, 20–14.

[12] Simons served as the head basketball coach for Tulane from 1938 to 1942, during which period his teams amassed a 19–44 record.

[14] Simons took over as head coach for the 1942 season, during World War II when many college age men were leaving for military service.

[12] Simons was replaced as head football coach by Henry Frnka for the 1946 season, but continued on as the university's athletic director.