Linebackers coach Bob Simmons has been through more than most in his profession.

Four years ago he needed a kidney transplant. His wife happened to be a perfect match, and she donated a kidney to her husband.

"It was very much an unselfish act on her part," Simmons said. "It was just the true meaning of marriage is all about ... The joke is that she's always with me and that I married the right women."

While his role at Notre Dame is slightly different from his role with his old team, Bob Simmons don't mind.

The head coach at Oklahoma State for six seasons, Simmons took a year off in 2001 before being hired by Tyrone Willingham to be the linebacker's coach for Notre Dame this season.

Simmons compiled a 30-38 record at Oklahoma State and led the Cowboys to an Alamo Bowl appearance in 1997, while also collecting Big 12 conference Coach of the Year honors that season. Previously, Simmons had worked as outside linebackers and defensive line coach at West Virginia and Colorado. At Colorado, Simmons helped lead the Buffaloes to a bowl game in all seven years he was there.

Simmons left Oklahoma State to become a volunteer consultant for the Big 12 conference.

Simmons has known Willingham for many years since his days at Oklahoma State.

"[At Oklahoma State], we developed, what I think is a real good relationship with him and he wife over the year," he said. "I've always had a lot of respect for Coach Willingham. He's always been a dynamic person with a great intensity for what he wanted to do."

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