UTEP names Steve Sims as women’s golf head coach
EL PASO, Texas - UTEP Director of Athletics Jim Senter announced on Thursday that Steve Sims has been named the new women’s golf head coach for the Miners.
Sims comes to El Paso after spending nearly a decade as an assistant at UCF where he helped lead the Knights to six team and two individual NCAA Regional appearances, two American Athletic Conference titles and one NCAA Championship appearance.
“We are excited to launch a new era of UTEP women’s golf with Steve Sims as head coach,” Senter said. “He has been a part of a top-35 program at UCF and played a pivotal role in the Knights’ run to four NCAA Regional appearances in the last six years. He is looking forward to leading his own program and building UTEP women’s golf into an annual Conference USA championship contender.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to become the next head women’s golf coach at UTEP,” Sims said. “I want to thank Jim Senter and Charley Thrash, along with the other staff members that made this decision so easy for me. When I first stepped foot on campus, I knew there was truly something special about this university. UTEP is an amazing place and I can’t wait to start recruiting, developing and graduating champions both on and off the golf course. Go Miners!”
After spending 2013-21 as an assistant at UCF, Sims earned a promotion to associate head coach prior to the 2021-22 campaign.
He has coached two AAC individual champions, four AAC Player of the Year selections, five AAC Freshman of the Year winners and 19 AAC All-Conference picks during his time in Orlando.
In addition, the Knights have excelled in the classroom, posting a 3.0 or higher GPA each year that Sims has been on staff, including a school-record 3.79 GPA in the spring of 2020. He has coached 20 WGCA Academic All-Americans to date.
Before his time at UCF, Sims caddied for Marcy Hart on the LPGA Tour from 2011-13. He also served as an assistant golf professional at the A.C. Read Golf Course from 2007-11 where he oversaw day-to-day operations, assisted in tournament operations, hosted junior clinics and helped to manage and oversee the 45-hole golf facility and restaurant.
Sims holds a bachelor’s degree in sport and fitness management with a minor in business administration from Troy University.
He was a four-year starter for the Trojan men’s golf team, including winning the 2005 Emerald Coast Collegiate in a playoff after finishing regulation with a 210 score.
Following his career at Troy, Sims spent five years as a professional golfer on various tours playing in PGA Dixie Section events and multiple mini tours.
Sims becomes the third head coach in UTEP women’s golf history.
