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Sims continues ex-UT trend at Gaither

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 3, 2001

TAMPA -- The last time worked out so well, Gaither once again decided to turn locally for its coach.

The Cowboys hired former Jesuit and University of Tampa standout Eric Sims to take over the team. He succeeds Adrian Bush, who left to become Director of Coaching with the new Hillsborough County United Soccer Club this summer.

"I'm very excited. This is a great opportunity," Sims said. "For someone my age to get a head start with a program that's already been established is a great opportunity. I had no choice but to take advantage of it."

Sims, 24, must complete some paperwork to make the job official but he met with the team Monday and began preparing for Oct. 22, the first day teams are allowed to practice.

He inherits a team Bush led to a 125-24-8 record during the past six seasons. Gaither finished 24-4-1 last season, losing in the state final on penalty kicks. The Cowboys won the state title in 2000 and have won the past three regional finals and four district titles.

"I'm giving my full effort to this job," said Sims, who is also the director of goalkeeping at Hillsborough United. "I told the team on Monday that they will not meet a team who is more prepared than they are."

Sims and Bush are similar in their backgrounds and approach to the game.

When he was hired, Bush was playing for the A-League's Tampa Bay Cyclones, having recently graduated from Tampa, where he was an integral part of the Spartans' national championship in 1994. He graduated from Hillsborough High.

Sims won a state title playing keeper at Jesuit, helped lead UT to a baseball championship in 1998 and won three conference championships with the soccer team. He spent this summer playing for the Nashville Metros of the A-League after serving as an assistant with Jesuit last season.

"I know what Eric did for Jesuit last year. He is one of the best up-and-coming young coaches in the area," Bush said. "I think the kids in the program are getting a great young coach."

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