Hunter Sims Named Next Howard Payne Football Coach
10/14/2015 12:45:39 PM
BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University athletic department announced current assistant head coach Hunter Sims will take over as head football coach at the end of the semester.
Following the recent announcement that HPU head football coach Roger Geise would be retiring at the end on the semester, the university made it clear today that it already had the new head coach in Hunter Sims.
"I am very excited for Hunter," said HPU Director of Athletics Mike Jones. "I know he will do a great job and he is a perfect fit for Howard Payne and the football program."
Sims spent three years as an assistant at Howard Payne before being promoted to offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in the spring of 2012. His first two years with HPU, he was the wide receivers coach then worked as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator in his third season.
"Hunter is a man of great character, wisdom and energy," said HPU President Dr. Bill Ellis. "Since I came to Howard Payne, I have been impressed with his commitment to our football players and to the program. I am confident Coach Sims will advance HPU football and bring honor to our university."
Sims' offenses have been some of the best in the American Southwest Conference, setting a new Howard Payne record for total offense in a game last season at East Texas Baptist with 720 yards in a 54-53 road victory. He has coached current HPU career record holder for field goals Joshua Martinez and wide receiver Colby Mica, who is on pace to break the HPU career receptions record.
As a player, Sims was a three-year letterman and two-time Academic All-Conference selection at quarterback at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. After his college playing career was over, he served as a student assistant at McMurry working with wide receivers and quarterbacks.
Sims went on to play quarterback in the German Football League (GFL) for the Professional Schwabisch Hall Unicorns. He also played one season with the San Angelo Stampede and Frisco Thunder of the Indoor Football League (IFL).
While in Germany playing professional football, Sims was also the head baseball coach of the Schwabisch Renegades Baseball team. Sims led them to the Landesliga Championship and was named Coach of the Year. Sims has worked football camps around the state and spent extensive time working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a camp counselor.
Sims is a 2007 graduate of McMurry University with a degree in Education and a minor in History and in 2010 he finished a master's degree in Sports Management. He was married in the summer of 2011 to his wife, Shannon.
Contributed by HPU Sports Information
Abram Choate