Longtime Southland Conference Assistant Gets Top Gig: McNeese State has hired Northwestern State assistant coach Dave Simmons to be the Cowboys’ coach. Simmons has worked for the Demons the past seven seasons, including last season when the team won the conference championship and upset No. 3 Iowa in the NCAA Tournament’s first round. Simmons has also worked for McNeese State as an assistant in the past and was part of Louisiana Tech’s staff when the team was a Southland member. Simmons replaces Tic Price, who went 74-68 in five seasons. [8/15/06]