By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
PASCAGOULA — There will be no more “Come Monday’s” for Pascagoula head football coach and longtime Jimmy Buffett fan Lewis Sims.
After 15 years at the helm of the Panthers, Sims officially stepped down Monday afternoon when he tendered his resignation and met with his team to inform them of his decision at 2 p.m.
Sims leaves as the all-time winningest head football coach in the over 100-year history of the PHS program. He went 103-77 overall, and led the Panthers to the Class 6A South State semifinals in each of the last three seasons as well as two a pair of Souh State championship appearances during his tenure and to the state championship contest in 2012.

Speculation surrounded Sims’s situation all season long that this would be his final season.
“My heart is full! I have been blessed to have the opportunity to teach young men to be husbands, fathers, and to have purposes bigger than themselves through the game of football.” Sims said, in an exclusive interview with SouthMiss6 Sports Sunday night. “Not everyone gets to interact with young people for 30 years. I can tell you I have learned more from the young men I have been privileged to coach than I could have ever imagined teaching them.”
Sims, a standout linebacker for Moss Point, led his alma mater for three seasons before making a career and life-changing “Pascagoula Run” across Jefferson Street to take over the arch-rival Panther program. He ends his career as a head coach at 128-88 including going 25-11 with the Tigers.

“Fifteen years in one place is a blessing,” he added. “Many of these players have never known a different head coach.  It has been an honor and privilege to coach here and watch many of our players grow into pillars of our community.  They serve, they work, they contribute in a myriad of ways. Panther football has lived the WARFACE mentality for 15 years. Thanks to a friend, teammate, and mentor, Clayton Kendrick-Holmes, our team has used his framework from SUNY Maritme to focus our attention on the standards that make a man, a team, and a community successful. We have learned to Work, with great Attitudes, Respecting the opportunity while protecting the Family name, on front and back of the jerseys, Accountable to to ourselves and others by owning what we say and do, all the while displaying great Character, even when no one is looking, and doing it all with relentless Enthusiasm, winning the day!”
The Panthers have one of the best graduation rates for their football program in South Mississippi as well. Sims sent numerous players to the next level as well as into various All-Star games to wrap up their prep careers over the years.

“In the words of Dylan Thomas, ‘I did not go gentle into that good night!’” Sims continued. “My wish is that my team, my coaches, my administration, and my colleagues saw and appreciated that I did not coast into retirement, I was more like Rear Admiral David Farragut at Mobile Bay during the Civil War, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”  We changed the culture as a football staff and established a standard of success that hopefully will continue to motivate our those in our program to be one of the most consistent teams that will play hard for four quarters and make you earn it every time the Panthers take the field.”
Sims had many words of appreciation and quite a few colleagues to thank for his successful career as he leaves as the longest-tenured head football coach in the “Southern Six” currently.

“in the words of Jimmy Buffett, ‘Go fast enough to get there, but slow enough to see‘”, Sims concluded. “I’d like to thank the coaches who shaped me into who I am. Billy Wayne Miller, Jerry Alexander, Bill Lee, Luther Kuykendall, Pete Facinni, Jackie McCorvey, Scott Sisson, Joe Knoll, Lou Ponteratto, and many more. Coaching is a fraternity like no other, and the relationships you build and maintain make you into the coach you are. To my current staff, you guys are the best. Your dedication to Panther football is unparalleled. Eric Hollis, Jeremy Cochran, Ron Brewer, Larry Sisson, Kevin Lowery, Josh Bishop, Randy Hogan, Richard Crosby, Alden Davis, Junior Priddy, Lawrence Travis, Earnest McCann, Darryl Jones. Special thanks to Jamie Smith, Daniel Whittemore, and Matt Peden. My athletics directors over the years, John Archie, Steve Engle, Greg Freeman, thank you all. Danelle Webber, you made my life so much easier and have been sorely missed. Wayne Rodolfich and Cindy Jackson, thanks for taking a chance on me 15 years ago. To my principals and assistant principals over the years, thank you. I hope I made your school better.”
And, in the words of Buffett, it’s been a “Lovely Cruise” for Sims as he sails off into the sunset.