When Lewis Sims became Pascagoula High School’s head football coach in 2011, I didn’t know that much about him. I knew that he had been an outstanding safety as a player at Moss Point High School, and then had gone on to play at the United States Naval Academy. I knew that he had gone into football coaching himself, most recently at Moss Point, his alma mater and Pascagoula’s biggest rival.
Now, 15 years later, I’ve come to know Coach Sims quite well. I’ve watched him coach the Panthers all these years, and he and I attend First Methodist Church together. What I’ve learned is that Lewis is a many faceted guy. He’s really good at coaching football, but he’s also an educator, an avid reader, a philosopher, and all-around interesting guy.
Back in January, Coach Sims retired as one of the most successful coaches in Pascagoula history. Now seems like a good time to reflect upon that career on the sidelines and also on the Lewis I’ve come to know.
Let’s look at the basics first. From 2011-2025, Coach Sims compiled a sterling 103-77 record as head coach of Pascagoula High School. This includes two region championships, 11 playoff berths, a South State Championship, and an appearance in the State Championship Game in Jackson.
One could certainly say that the record speaks for itself, but Lewis has another take on the wins and losses.
“I never really kept up with all the numbers”, he said. “I just showed up every day and tried to do my best, no matter what. Don’t get me wrong, I loved all the victories we had and the championships we won, but one of my favorite memories from coaching the Panthers was our 2018 team that went 1-10. We lost so many close games that year, and the guys just kept showing up. We finished the season with 42 of the toughest hombres I have ever coached, and I’ll always cherish that team.”
So, how did this journey of a coaching career start for Lewis Sims? Did he always want to be a coach?
“Not really,” said Lewis. “I originally wanted to be a fighter pilot—like Maverick in “Top Gun”—or a lawyer. However, when I moved home from college, Scott Sisson saw me and asked me what I was doing. He offered me the chance to coach catchers and keep the scoreboard for Moss Point High baseball, and I took it.
“Then, in April of that year—1996—Coach (Jerry ) Alexander, the Tigers’ head football coach, told me if I would finish up work for my teaching degree, there may be a coaching opportunity at Magnolia Junior High. I started with that in the fall, with a plan of two years there, then go to law school. However, I fell in love with teaching and coaching, and here we are 30 years later.”
Other coaching stops along the way for Lewis included East Central High, Sewanhaka High and Lynnbrook High in New York (wife Amber was completing her residency at SUNY Downstate and Kings County Hospital on her way to becoming Dr. Colville, now one of the stars of our local medical community), then MPHS from 2004-2010, including the last three years as head coach. Then came the monumental move across Jefferson Street to Pascagoula.
Lewis mentioned how he fell in love with teaching as well as coaching—they’re obviously very similar—and he has certainly lived up to that passion.
“I have taught English, 7-12, for 27 years,” said Lewis. “Mixed in some world history, creative writing, career readiness, reading, health, and Algebra I, and I’ve done a little of it all.
“Teaching kept me grounded and taught me how to be organized in how I approached coaching. The answer has always been to find whatever you needed to get your guys to understand what you were doing.”
Lewis has a reputation as an excellent instructor among students and fellow faculty alike. I mean, I’ve always said, how many folks can talk to you about both Shakespeare and the spread option offense?
Knowing there were way too many to pick from, I asked Coach Sims what were some of his favorite memories from coaching at PHS. Here’s a sampling of what he selected:
- First playoff win at Pearl in 2011.
- Beating Picayune when they were number one in 2012, then winning the South State Championship up at Pearl River Central that year.
- The “Miracle on Tucker” game versus Hattiesburg in 2020, second round of the playoffs. “We were down 21-0, and came all the way back to take the lead. Late in the game, we were running out the clock, but Hattiesburg stripped the ball and went down to score with :27 seconds to go. We get the kickoff, complete two passes to set up a 36-yard field goal attempt with :03 seconds on the clock. We make it to send the game to overtime, stop H’burg, then kick a field goal to win and send us to South State.” (I remember that one well—truly one for the ages.)
- The 2020Saturday afternoon win over Picayune, several other playoff wins, victories over Moss Point and Gautier (Coach Sims had an 11-2 record versus Moss Point and an 11-4 record versus Gautier. Not bad to go 22-6 against your two biggest rivals.), just so many special memories.
So, now that Coach Sims has hung up his whistle, at least for now, what are his immediate plans?
“I’m working for Adrenaline Fundraising and the Coastal Design Group (construction company),” said Lewis. “I’m getting back into golf, and walking our dogs as much as I can. Amber has me doing some gardening, and I can enjoy much more pool time.
Could we ever see Lewis patrolling the sidelines again in any capacity?
“Possibly, as a volunteer,” said Lewis. “I still love the game and will surely miss the weekly scouting and film breakdown. We were fortunate at PHS to have a close-knit staff who had been together for a while.
“I already miss the daily talks with both coaches and players. My purpose in coaching and teaching was always bigger than the game itself, that was just a vehicle to achieve more meaningful objectives. Winning and losing is part of life, and the relationships you build last longer than the jubilation of a big win or the despair of a crushing loss. The key to success is developing relationships that transcend the sidelines, as they go deeper and are more meaningful than anything else.
“I am very honored and humbled to have been the head coach at Pascagoula High School, and to coach at one place for 15 seasons. I’ve seen so many players come and go through the program, then come back as young men who are pillars of our community. That has always been the goal, to develop these young guys to have a purpose bigger than themselves, to serve others, and to become men of character who lead others to be the best version of themselves.
“While a big goal was always to win games and strive for a state championship, my cup runs over with fond memories and lasting relationships that will carry me through till Jesus calls me home.”
I probably should just end the column right there, as you can’t say it any better than the coach did himself. Let me just state that it has been a blast watching Lewis Sims coach Panther football, and that it will continue to be an honor to call this Renaissance Man my friend.
Richard Lucas may be contacted at [email protected].
