Efrem Shimlis
Head Coach

Efrem Shimlis enters his seventh 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.

Last season, Shimlis led the Pirates to a 13-8-1 overall record and a 3-1-0 MCAC record. Park finished second in the conference and then fell to Bellevue in overtime, 3-2 in the MCAC tournament. The Pirates got their revenge in the Region IV Tournament, posting a 2-1 win over the Bruins.

Shimlis took the Pirates to Daytona Beach, Fl. 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 #3 Webber International (Fl.).

In 2005, Shimlis led the Pirates to a 15-4-2 record and a No. 9 national ranking in the final poll of the year. Shimlis’ squad captured the MCAC regular season crown and the NAIA Region IV tournament championship.

In his six seasons as head coach, Shimlis has compiled a 94-31-9 record.

Before his appointment at Park, Shimlis collected a wide range of coaching and professional playing experience. Originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Shimlis also 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.

He has also served as head coach for U-13, U-14 and U-15 Kansas City Blaze teams and in 1997 he served as the Director of Coaching and Programs for Soccer in the Streets in Kansas City, Mo.

Shimlis, who resides in Parkville, Mo., earned a bachelor’s degree from Park in history in 1997.