MOBILE, Ala. (February 7, 2022) – After 37 seasons at the helm of the Spring Hill College (SHC) baseball program, Badger head coach Frank Sims has announced that 2022 will be his last on the Hill. The Alabama Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame member has decided to retire at the conclusion of this season.

"How do you put 37 years into a few sentences," Sims said. "But it's just time. My wife Dana and I have thought about this decision for both our careers for quite a while now and it's just time. I will miss it greatly. I'll miss the players greatly. I'll miss all of the coaches that I've known and made friends with over the years.

"It's been a good ride with some good teams," Sims continued. "Our players graduate and that's the main thing. We've had Major League players, sure, but I'm most proud of the good kids we've produced. I see them when they return for visits and they are successful with families of their own and it's great to see how they've turned out."

Sims became the head coach of the Badgers with just three weeks remaining in the 1985 season and has since won 938 games at the helm of the Badgers. Over his 38 years as a collegiate head coach, Sims has accumulated 974 total victories. Sims holds the record for most career victories at Spring Hill and his tenure with SHC includes 26 20-win seasons, six 30-win seasons, two 40-win seasons and five conference championships. 

He was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017.

Spring Hill appeared in the NAIA Regional Tournament four times in his reign and Sims has been honored as a Conference Coach of the Year on five occasions with the latest time being the 2014 Independent Collegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) honor in NCAA Division II. 

During Spring Hill's 2015 NCAA Division II transition season, the Badgers rang up a perfect 16-0 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and a 26-14 record overall. In 2016, the Badgers once again topped the SIAC with an 18-3 conference record and a 29-16 mark overall. In 2019, the Badgers captured its first SIAC Tournament title and appeared in the NCAA DII South Region Championship Tournament.

"When I first arrived at Spring Hill, I didn't know if I'd stay five years," Sims laughs. "But it's a good quality of life here in Mobile. I've raised my family here. I've had opportunities to move on, but I've turned them all down because it wasn't what I wanted at the time. I have four kids who are all SHC graduates and I've coached my two sons at the collegiate level. Who could ask for more?"

Before joining the Badgers in 1985, Sims was the head coach at Milton College (Wis.) where he compiled a 36-10 record and reached the NAIA Regional Tournament during the 1982 season. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater Eastern Illinois University where he received his B.S. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) in 1977. After a successful three-year stint as the head coach at Sparta (Ill.) High School from 1976-80, Sims became a graduate assistant coach at Morehead State University (Ky.) in 1980-81 and later completed his M.A. in HPER at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater where he served as a graduate assistant coach from 1982-85.

"I could write a book about the silliness of players and other coaches," Sims says. "But I've also seen the best in all those people. 

"Dana, my wife, hasn't had me around a lot," Sims continues. "So when my friend Mike Jacobs (head coach, University of Mobile) passed away, I have to admit that it made me start to think about things differently. I'm still in good health and I'd like to spend the next 10, 12, 15 years? – doing things I want to do. I want to spend more time with my brothers and sisters who are all getting older and we haven't been around each other much. Dana and I have grandkids we want to play ball with, ride horses, go to plays, and see them grow up. We were talking the other day and realized, 'There won't be a timeline anymore'."

During his nine seasons in international competition, Sims coached the United States to the 2009 and 2010 championships of Prague Baseball Week while also coaching US teams to Runner-Up finishes in 2008 and third-place finishes in 2005 and 2006.

Born and raised in Charleston, Ill., Sims grew up on a farm with seven brothers and sisters. He graduated high school in 1970 and attended Lake Land Junior College before pitching for the University of Iowa. In 1973, he was a member of the Hawkeye's co-Big Ten Championship team. He and his wife, Dana, have four children and six grandchildren (Drew and Caitlin Sims with son Carson; Charlie and Sarah Anderson with daughter Olivia and sons Connor, Henry and Brooks; Brian and India Sims with son Camden; and Tyler and Kelsey Welch).

On Frank Sims from his colleagues:

"Frank Sims has done so much for Spring Hill College and especially the baseball program. Such a positive influence on so many student athletes. He has not only won 1,000 games but also has improved the playing facility into a beautiful complex for college baseball. One of the most well liked baseball coaches in the south. Spring Hill College hired the right man 37 years ago." –Steve Kittrell (Head Coach SHC Softball; former Head Baseball Coach at Spring Hill and University of South Alabama)

"I have always enjoyed playing against Frank and his teams at Spring Hill. He has really good teams who play the game the right way and are always professional. I will also miss Frank's wisdom and experience that he brings to our SIAC baseball meetings as he has made our baseball conference better. We will truly miss Coach Sims." –Scot Hemmings (Head Baseball Coach Albany State University)

"Frank is a great guy who always competed well and was well respected by all that played against him. He's liked by all of his counterparts for being the same guy, win or lose." –Bobby Halford (Head Baseball Coach William Carey University)

"Congrats to Coach Sims on a long and successful run on 'the Hill.' It is rare that a coach stays in one place as long as Frank has. He found his place in the sun and thrived. He was very welcoming to me when I joined the SHC staff and has been great to work alongside. I am thankful for his help and guidance. Congrats, my friend!" –Peggy Martin (Head Coach SHC Volleyball)

"I'm so grateful to Frank Sims for his mentorship over the years. He was always willing to spend time with me as a young coach to offer guidance. As I moved to administration, I still sought out his advice and he was always generous with his time.  Over the years, Coach became a good friend and I always made a point to pass by the field when in Mobile.  Congratulations Coach Sims on an amazing career and well-earned retirement." –Brett Simpson (Athletic Director Loyola University [La.])

The Badgers (2-0) will host the Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Warhawks (1-3) on Wednesday in a non-conference single game beginning at 3 p.m. on Stan Galle Field.