University of Maryland names Johnstown native Geroy Simon athletics GM

Greater Johnstown High School graduate and Canadian Football League Hall of Fame member Geroy Simon will return to his college roots as executive director of revenue share management and general manager for University of Maryland athletics.

One of the top receivers in Terrapins football history, Simon officially accepted the position earlier this week.

Im really excited to go back to Maryland, Simon said during a telephone interview in Mesa, Arizona.

Maryland is a place that I call home and feel like its essentially my second home.

To have the opportunity to go back and help with the new landscape of college athletics is something Im ecstatic about.

Simon had been general manager of the Canadian Football Leagues Edmonton Elks this past season after previously serving as the franchises assistant general manager from 2021-24.

The 49-year-old managed football operations, salary cap issues, contract negotiations, budgets and player personnel all valuable tools in the evolving college football game.

His administrative background also includes six years in executive roles with the CFLs British Columbia Lions.

With contracts and talks with players, thats going to be the main focus of this opportunity, Simon said, noting college players ability to profit from use of their name, image and likeness.

With NIL and revenue sharing, there are real contract negotiations.

Thats going to be my main job with the three major sports (football and mens and womens basketball).

After starring in football, basketball and track and field at Greater Johnstown High School, Simon played at Maryland from 1993-96.

He ranks second all-time in career receptions (185) and sixth in career receiving yards (2,059) with the Terrapins.

A 1994 all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, Simon set school and then-ACC records with 77 receptions that season.

Its totally different than when I played, Simon said.

Its a business now.

Students are still student-athletes, but its turned into a business a big business.

You have to have people in these positions to make sure the dollars are being spent properly and being fiscally responsible.

Simon knows the game both inside and outside the lines.

After college, he was on NFL rosters with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, but never stuck.

One figurative door closed and another opened, as Simon traveled north and collected a CFL-record 16,352 receiving yards over 15 seasons.

Simons 1,029 career receptions still rank second all-time and his 103 career touchdown receptions rank third in the league.

More important, Simon was part of three Grey Cup championship teams, twice with the British Columbia Lions and once with Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Simon earned the leagues most outstanding player honor in 2006, and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2017.

Ill be moving up to Maryland pretty quick, said Simon, also a member of the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame.

Were starting the process.

I wanted to be close to my family.

My parents are still in Johnstown.

My grandparents are still in Johnstown.

This gives me an opportunity to be closer to them and have a couple-hour drive to get back and forth..

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