From Walk-On to Business Leader: David Simmons Transforms Work Ethic into Success with The Simmons Group Insurance Agency

SAN MARCOS- David Simmons, a walk-on linebacker who earned All-Southland Conference first-team honors in 2004 and 2005, is now making waves in the insurance industry as an entrepreneur with his wife through their company, The Simmons Group Insurance Agency.

Simmons, a Houston native, earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science in 2009. He was a key player on the Texas State team that reached the Division I-AA Final Four and won the conference championship under head coach David Bailiff in 2005. Despite receiving full scholarship offers from Division II schools, Simmons chose to walk on at Texas State, knowing he needed to bulk up to compete effectively due to his undersized stature for the position.

“I was 205 playing linebacker; coach told me I had to put on some weight,” Simmons said. “Thanks to Harris and Jones Dining Hall for getting me right and Old Commons. Commons was the spot back then.”

Simmons redshirted his freshman season but made a significant impact during his sophomore year, starting with the first game against New Mexico.

“We were down at halftime,” Simmons said. “Coach Ron Roberts put me in, and I had ten tackles and a pick in one half.”

Simmons’s performance earned him a half scholarship, but he aimed for more. He used the New Mexico game as a foundation, steadily improving his performance and accumulating more tackles each week. As a walk-on, Simmons had to work hard for everything, which provided him with a unique perspective as a student-athlete.

“It gives me so much appreciation for the game and the hard work,” Simmons said. “I get that from my mom and dad. It’s what you do when nobody is watching that gets you to that level.”

Simmons eventually earned a full scholarship, marking one of the best days of his life and fulfilling a promise he made to his parents. All the time he spent working out early in the mornings during Christmas and summer holidays, and conditioning in various weather conditions, finally paid off.

“You have to put in the work,” Simmons said. “I instill that work ethic in my kids today.”

Simmons’s work ethic was evident on the field, where he amassed numerous tackles and interceptions. During his senior season, when the team won the Southland Conference Championship, coach Bailiff proudly handed the championship trophy to Simmons to hoist.

“I was on the front cover of the University Star. Coach Bailiff handed me the trophy, and I held it up,” Simmons said. “That was my proudest moment at Texas State.”

After his career at Texas State, Simmons spent a year in the Canadian Football League and returned to Texas State to earn his bachelor’s degree. He then worked at Texas Hill Country School for children with traumatic brain injuries for five years, gaining valuable experience and forming lasting relationships. It was there that he met his wife, who was also his boss. As life progressed, this would not be the last time she was in a position of authority over him.

Simmons worked at Dell in Austin for a while and then got involved in land surveying and mortgage lending. Simmons always had an entrepreneurial drive and spirit, which led to him and his wife creating their own insurance agency, The Simmons Group Insurance Services.

“We started it two years ago, and my wife has a lot of knowledge—she was one of the top sales reps in the country for Liberty Mutual for years,” Simmons said. “I plug in wherever it’s needed, from sales to community engagement, and on the backend with accounting, so I do a little bit of it all.”

The Simmons Group Insurance Services covers auto, home, life, and recreational vehicles like jet skis and boats. Simmons is in a unique position, working alongside his significant other as his business partner—something not every couple can successfully achieve.

“I’m blessed to have the most amazing woman I’ve ever come into contact with,” Simmons said. “She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

As a walk-on, Simmons developed a work ethic that has helped him thrive in his professional career as an entrepreneur. With their insurance agency only two years old, Simmons has drawn on his walk-on mentality by actively engaging with the community and promoting the new business.

“You have to demonstrate to people that you’re going to provide a top-notch service that’s different from the next insurance company,” Simmons said. “By putting in that time and work and demonstrating that you will be reliable.”

The service and reliability that The Simmons Group Insurance Services provide set them apart from other insurance companies. Additionally, the Simmons have two children together, a boy and a girl.

David Simmons, who began his career as a walk-on linebacker at Texas State, has transitioned into entrepreneurship with The Simmons Group Insurance Agency, which he co-founded with his wife. The agency, offering comprehensive coverage including auto, home, and recreational vehicles, reflects Simmons’ commitment to service and reliability. His experience as a walk-on athlete, marked by persistence and dedication, has influenced his approach to business, contributing to the agency’s success.