It’s a long journey to the top, but NIU men’s soccer coach Steve Simmons is on his way.

After both playing and coaching at the collegiate level, Simmons is known as one of the top coaches in men’s soccer. The Huskies (6-1-2 overall, 1-0 MAC) are ranked No. 23 in the nation, and Simmons has lead the team to its best start in a decade.

The Concordia graduate sat down with the Northern Star to talk about growing up as an Air Force son, how he was introduced to soccer and his passion for the outdoors.

Northern Star: It’s not too often that you find an Alaska native in DeKalb. What was it like living up there?

Steve Simmons: Well, I’ll tell you where I’m a native of, and that’s an Air Force native. Alaska happened to be the last place my father was stationed. And I ended up going to high school there, but I was fortunate to live all over the world before living in Alaska.

NS: What’s it like having a father in the Air Force?

SS: We were always used to packing things up every three years and getting ready for a new adventure. At a young age it was just the way life was. Going to a new school and having to meet new friends and adjust was at the time always a transition. But it’s something that’s forced me and my brother to be dynamic and to operate outside of our comfort levels. But I think it has come back to bless me, to be honest.

NS: Did moving every few years, and transitioning into new schools affect they way you perceived soccer?

SS: My father ended up getting stationed in England at a RAF base in the early ’70s. We actually lived off the base for about a year and the story goes: My brother and I, who were about 5 and 6 at the time, kind of got bored. There was always this group of kids at the park that we could see out of our window kicking a ball around. Until we got enough nerve and we went out there and just watched. We didn’t want to bother or ask, but as time went on we ended up getting accustomed to soccer, and really understanding what the passion was about. That’s why I do what I do today.

NS: Was the rest history?

SS: Yeah. What happened though is that we ended up moving to Charlestown, S.C., in the late ’70s. Soccer really wasn’t too popular at that time in the states. But every time we had kickball games, we were the ones who could really smash the ball. We got accustomed to other sports; we did them all. I’m just an absolute sports fanatic. But for our family, sports were a big deal.

NS: Do you think that moving from place to place and seeing how soccer is played worldwide has helped you as a coach?

SS: Yeah, I think that when we ended up moving to Alaska in the early ’80s, what ended up happening was a bunch of Air Force and Army kids who had picked up the game and found themselves deposited in the last frontier and knew how to play. Now the rest of the state was severely behind, but there was a pocket of us who had experiences in soccer beds. It allowed me to pursue the game in college.

NS: Talking about your collegiate soccer career at Concordia University in Portland, do you have any favorite soccer memories that stick with you?

SS: Sometimes the memories are formed through tough workouts. When we ended up going to the national tournament, that was a big deal. I was fortunate to score some big goals and be a part of the rebirth of the program. I loved it so much that I stayed on as an assistant coach there.

NS: You’re continuing to stay involved now as a head coach, but are there ever times you wish you were back on the field?

SS: No, those days are long gone. Once in a while when I jump on with the boys, I realize that I am 41 and they are Division I athletes. I can still outwit some of the guys, but that only gets you so far. Once in a while I will come out and play with my kids but as far as going out with these guys, only once in a blue moon. I have to be careful that I don’t write checks my body can’t cash.

NS: Though you can’t keep up with the guys, you are still keeping in shape. I’ve heard you ride your bike to work.

SS: Yeah, you know our strength conditioning coach does a phenomenal presentation for our student athletes about sports nutrition. I try to heed the advice that our experts here give to the athletes. It’s free information but I’ll tell you something. This area has the best food in the world, and I don’t know if that helps me.

NS: Is that food going to be on your bad side once the weather gets colder and the bike is put away?

SS: You said something there. You either have to find a way to ride the bike or find different foods to eat. My coaching staff and I, we are food connoisseurs. We have a good time with it, because we are always trying to find out about good restaurants.

NS: So what would you say the best place to eat in DeKalb is?

SS: There are some outstanding places. Our kids often go to pregame breakfast at the Junction. I’ve heard Egg Haven also has a good breakfast. Some of the simplest places have the best food. You have a lot of options here and it’s a place, that if you’re not careful, you can find yourself on the bad side.

NS: What’s your favorite thing to do off the field?

SS: I am fortunate enough that the thing that I love outside of my family is this game. I consider this a hobby that I get to do, and a hobby that allows me to support my family, and one that allows me to come to a place that I am in love with. But if I have to get away, being from Alaska, I love fishing. I often go back to Alaska for a coach’s clinic and find time to catch big, big fish. That’s something that I miss, going fishing and being outdoors and seeing moose and bears. My assistant coach Eric Luzzi is absolutely frightened of wildlife, so I can’t wait to bring him up there for the clinic and have that experience.