Park University Men's Soccer

Shimlis has averaged more than 11 wins per season. He picked up his 100th career victory while at Park in a 3-0 shutout over No. 4 ranked and eventual NAIA national champion Lindsey Wilson College in 2009. Shimlis is currently tied for the winningest coach in Park history with Ben Popoola (1983-1995). In 2002-2003, under coach Shimlis Eric Ongao was named the NAIA Men's Soccer Player of the Year. Shimlis has coached 13 All-Americans; two first team, two second team, four third team, and five honorable mentions. There have also been 18 Daktronics Scholar Athletes under Shimlis.  The 2013 team led by Shimlis saw action at the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship against Lindsey Wilson with an overall record of 11-6-1, 8-2 in the AMC. The 2012 season saw the Pirates qualify for the American Midwest Conference tournament for the fourth consecutive year with an overall record of 6-10-1 and a 3-4-1 mark in conference play. In 2011, Park advanced to a third-straight AMC Tournament championship match as the No. 3 seed after finishing the AMC regular season 6-2. Shimlis earned the AMC Coach of the Year award after leading the PIrates to an AMC regular season title in 2010 with a 6-0-1 conference and 12-3-2 overall record, including a 10-match win streak. Ramone Palmer was named the AMC Men's Soccer Player of the Year under Shimlis' tutelage. Under Shimlis, Park qualified for its seventh-straight NAIA National Tournament in 2008, which was the third longest active streak in the country. The Pirates eventually lost to Baker University 1-0 in the first round finishing the season 11-4-3 overall. Park was ranked in every NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll in 2008 and ranked as high as No. 7. Shimlis guided the Pirates to an MCAC regular season title, a Region IV Tournament championship, and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2007. Shimlis was recognized by both the MCAC and Region IV as Coach of the Year and the team earned the 2007 NELS Dahlquist Team Sportsmanship Award. Four student-athletes were recognized as all-Americans and eight were named to the all-Region IV and all-MCAC teams. Shimlis accepted the head coaching position prior to the 2001 season after three years as an assistant coach in the program, and a four-year career as a player for the Pirates from 1992-1996. Before his appointment at Park, the Addis Ababa, Ethiopia native played 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. Shimlis resides in Parkville, Mo., and earned a bachelor's degree in history from Park in 1997. Efrem Shimlis enters his 15th campaign as the head coach of the Park University men's soccer program compiling an overall record of 165-76-17 (.694 winning percentage) leading the Pirates to seven of the their eight appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. In his 13 years at Park, Shimlis has averaged more than 11 wins per season. He picked up his 100th career victory while at Park in a 3-0 shutout over No. 4 ranked and eventual NAIA national champion Lindsey Wilson College in 2009. Shimlis is currently tied for the winningest coach in Park history with Ben Popoola (1983-1995). In 2002-2003, under coach Shimlis Eric Ongao was named the NAIA Men's Soccer Player of the Year. Shimlis has coached 13 All-Americans; two first team, two second team, four third team, and five honorable mentions. There have also been 18 Daktronics Scholar Athletes under Shimlis.  The 2013 team led by Shimlis saw action at the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship against Lindsey Wilson with an overall record of 11-6-1, 8-2 in the AMC. The 2012 season saw the Pirates qualify for the American Midwest Conference tournament for the fourth consecutive year with an overall record of 6-10-1 and a 3-4-1 mark in conference play. In 2011, Park advanced to a third-straight AMC Tournament championship match as the No. 3 seed after finishing the AMC regular season 6-2. Shimlis earned the AMC Coach of the Year award after leading the PIrates to an AMC regular season title in 2010 with a 6-0-1 conference and 12-3-2 overall record, including a 10-match win streak. Ramone Palmer was named the AMC Men's Soccer Player of the Year under Shimlis' tutelage. Under Shimlis, Park qualified for its seventh-straight NAIA National Tournament in 2008, which was the third longest active streak in the country. The Pirates eventually lost to Baker University 1-0 in the first round finishing the season 11-4-3 overall. Park was ranked in every NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll in 2008 and ranked as high as No. 7. Shimlis guided the Pirates to an MCAC regular season title, a Region IV Tournament championship, and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2007. Shimlis was recognized by both the MCAC and Region IV as Coach of the Year and the team earned the 2007 NELS Dahlquist Team Sportsmanship Award. Four student-athletes were recognized as all-Americans and eight were named to the all-Region IV and all-MCAC teams. Shimlis accepted the head coaching position prior to the 2001 season after three years as an assistant coach in the program, and a four-year career as a player for the Pirates from 1992-1996. Before his appointment at Park, the Addis Ababa, Ethiopia native played 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. Shimlis resides in Parkville, Mo., and earned a bachelor's degree in history from Park in 1997.