Head Coach | Efrem Shimlis

With the start of the 2010 Park University men’s soccer season, head coach Efrem Shimlis will celebrate his 10th year as head coach of the Pirate men’s soccer squad and will look to take his team back to the NAIA National Tournament for the eighth time in his 10 years at the helm.

Shimlis 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.
 

Park’s 2009 season was full of highs and lows, the Pirates began the year red hot, winning five of its first six matches. The Pirates even shutout No. 4 ranked and eventual national champion, Lindsey Wilson College, 3-0, on Labor Day, the win marked Shimlis’ 100th career victory at Park.

Park then dropped three straight matches, before rebounding for two straight American Midwest Conference wins over Missouri Baptist and Harris-Stowe.
Park entered the AMC Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed and defeated Harris-Stowe, 3-0, in the quarterfinal match.
 

The Pirates hit the road for the AMC Semifinal round to face the No. 2 seed, McKendree. In a thrilling overtime game, Park defeated the Bearcats, 1-0, in overtime off of a goal by freshman Matthew Ashman.

Park eventually lost to No. 1 seeded Columbia College in the AMC Championship game in another overtime match, 2-1. Park ended the year with a record of 10-6-1 and failed to qualify for the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship Tournament for the first time in eight years.

In his nine years at Park, Shimlis has amassed a 108-69-13 record, averaging 12 wins per season. Shimlis led the Pirates to another superb season in ‘08, qualifying Park for its seventh straight NAIA National Tournament appearance, which was 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 was ranked as high as No. 7 in the Poll. 
 

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 (Fla.).

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.