Head Coach | Efrem Shimlis

Efrem Shimlis enters his ninth season as head coach of the Park University men’s soccer team. He accepted the head coaching position after three years as an assistant coach in the program, and a four-year career as a player for the Pirates.
 

Shimlis led the Pirates to another superb season in ‘08, qualifying Park for its seventh straight NAIA National Tournament appearance, which is the third longest active streak in the country. The Pirates eventually lost to Baker University, 1-0, in the NAIA Opening Round game but still posted a stellar, 11-4-3 overall record.

Park was ranked in every NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll in 2008 and were ranked as high as No. 7 in the Poll. In his eight years at Park he has amassed a 98-63-12 record. 

In 2007, Shimlis led the Pirates to a 13-6 overall record and finished 4-0 in the MCAC. The men were crowned MCAC Regular Season Champs and Region IV Tournament Champions. Park took second in the MCAC Conference Tournament, falling 1-0 in overtime to Bellevue University. Shimlis was recognized by both the MCAC and Region IV as Coach of the Year.
 

Shimlis took the Pirates to their sixth NAIA National Tournament in a row in 2007. Park was knocked out in the first round of the tournament by No. 5 seeded Simon Fraser (B.C.), 1-0. The Pirates didn’t leave the tournament empty handed, as they were recognized with the 2007 NELS Dahlquist Team Sportsmanship Award. Shimlis had four athletes recognized as all-Americans, and eight athletes were named to Region IV and MCAC teams.

The Pirates also spent the entire 2007 season nationally ranked in the NAIA Top-25. Park was a preseason No. 15 pick and peaked at No. 14 twice throughout the season.

The Pirates finished the 2006 season at 13-8-1 and Shimlis took the Pirates to Daytona Beach, Fla. for the NAIA Tournament. Park defeated Goshen College out of Indiana in penalty kicks, advancing to Round Two of the tournament. Their quest for the NAIA title ended in Round Two for a second year in a row, falling 3-2 to No. 3 Webber International (Fl.).

Before his appointment at Park, Shimlis collected a wide range of coaching and professional playing experiences. Originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Shimlis played for the Pirates from 1992-1996.
His extensive experience includes playing professionally for the 1997 World Champion Kansas City Attack of the National Professional Soccer League, as well as the Daytona Speed Kings and the Columbus Comets.

In the spring of 2008, Shimlis co-founded the youth soccer club Harambe Futbol Club. Harambe F.C. is based in the Kansas City metro area and has 14 boys and girls soccer teams. Shimlis is the head coach of U-11 girls Harambe F.C. Fury and U-15 boys Harambe F.C. United.  Shimlis, who resides in Parkville, Mo., earned a bachelor’s degree from Park in history in 1997.

Assistant Coach | Enock Odede

One of the most talented players to ever wear a uniform for Park University, Enock Odede enters his third season as the Assistant Coach for the men’s soccer program. Odede played for the Pirates from 2002-2005 and led the Pirates to the NAIA National Championship game in 2002.

The Kenya native began is college career at Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, Kentucky and played one season for the Cougars before enrolling at Park. He was also named an NAIA All-American in 2003 and was named the MCAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. Odede resides in Riverside, Mo. and enjoys swimming in his free time.