Kyle Simpson has been deeply involved in high school and grassroots basketball for 25 years. A third-generation coach, his passion for the game began as a young boy sitting on his father Kelly’s bench while he coached at the legendary Milan High School. Kyle would later become a four-year starter at Milan from 1992-1996, scoring 1,272 points and pulling down 712 rebounds. During the summers of 1993 and 1994, he played AAU basketball for Bloomington Red.
After high school, Kyle continued his basketball career at NAIA Indiana University-Southeast. In three seasons (he missed his junior year due to a knee injury), he finished in the top 10 all-time in rebounding and scored 977 points.
In 2000-2001, Kyle began his coaching career at Bloomington South as a freshman, JV, and varsity assistant coach under Indiana’s all-time winningest coach, JR Holmes. During his time there, he was introduced to coaching AAU basketball through the Bloomington/Indiana Red program by his longtime friend and mentor, Criss Beyers. Kyle and Criss coached together at Bloomington South for twelve years. From 2000-2012, the team compiled a 235-54 record, won two state titles, two semi-states, four regionals, and eight sectionals. In 2009, Head Coach JR Holmes was named National Coach of the Year, and former Indiana Hoosier Jordan Hulls was named Mr. Basketball.
In the spring of 2012, Kyle left Bloomington South to become the head coach at Southport High School in Indianapolis. Over six seasons (2012-2018), he led the Cardinals to a 74-68 record. In 2016, he guided Southport to its first Final Four appearance since 1990. Under his leadership, Southport won three conference titles and a Hall of Fame Championship. During his tenure, he coached 2016 Indiana All-Star Joey Brunk and 2016 Junior All-Star Paul Scruggs.
In the spring of 2018, Kyle stepped down as head coach to spend more time with his family and returned to Bloomington South as a varsity assistant. Since his return, the Panthers have won three sectionals, had an undefeated 26-0 season (cut short due to COVID in 2020), coached Mr. Basketball/Indiana Hoosier Anthony Leal, and reached the Final Four in 2021. He has also had the opportunity to coach his two sons, Brady (Class of 2022) and Tucker (Class of 2025).
In addition to his high school coaching career, Kyle coached Indiana Elite’s first 17U team in the spring of 2005. That team featured four Indiana All-Stars: Armon Bassett (Indiana), Derek Drews (Western Michigan), Adam Arnold (Indiana State) and Brandon McPherson (Valpo). He also coached the 17U team in 2006, which featured Purdue Boilermaker Chris Kramer.
Here are the Division 1 players Kyle Simpson has coached while part of Indiana Elite:
– **Armon Bassett** – Indiana
– **Derek Drews** – Western Michigan
– **Brandon McPherson** – Valparaiso
– **Andy Hampton** – IUPUI
– **Kyle Duncan** – Austin Peay
– **Kyle Savely** – IPFW
– **Warren Wallace** – IPFW
– **Billy Pettiford** – IUPUI
– **TJ Jones** – Chicago State
– **Chris Kramer** – Purdue
– **Bobby Jolliff** – Eastern Illinois
– **Keevin Miller** – IPFW
– **Jon Workman** – Western Michigan
– **Norman Wells** – Indiana State
– **Garrett Butcher** – Butler
– **Chase Stigall** – Butler
– **Stuart Douglass** – Michigan
– **Daniel Moore** – Indiana
– **Muhammed Conteh** – Western Michigan
– **Emerson Kampen** – Butler
– **Brent Eaton** – Wisconsin Green-Bay
– **Isaiah Hill** – Seton Hall
– **Elliott Kampen** – Butler
– **Terone Johnson** – Purdue
– **De’Vaunte Smith-Rivera** – Georgetown
– **Ge-Lawn Guyn** – Cincinnati
– **Daniel Turner** – Wisconsin Green-Bay
– **Erik Fromm** – Butler
– **PJ Hubert** – IUPUI
– **Andrew Dakich** – Michigan
– **Mark Donnal** – Michigan
– **Blake Simmons** – Evansville
– **Maverick Morgan** – Illinois
– **Franko House** – Ball State
– **Tre Singleton** – Offers from Purdue, Clemson, Xavier, Louisville, Northwestern, Notre Dame
– **PJ Douglas** – Wright State
– **Michael Cooper** – Wright State
– **Bryson Cardinal** – Offers from Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Missouri State.