LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Dave Simmons, who has been an assistant coach with three different Southland Conference basketball champions, was named head coach Tuesday at McNeese State.

Simmons comes from Northwestern State, which won the SLC title last season and defeated Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He replaces Tic Price, who was fired last month after five seasons and a 74-68 record.

"Dave Simmons is a very good fit for our program," McNeese State athletic director Sonny Watkins said. "He has helped build championship teams everywhere he has gone and he knows what it takes to be a champion in the Southland Conference."

Simmons, 47, also has been on the staffs of Louisiana Tech and McNeese State when those teams won SLC championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He has been at Northwestern State for the past seven seasons.

Simmons played college basketball at Louisiana Tech and was named to the all-SLC team three times.