North Carolina State University Athletics
Sims Named Pitching Coach at Houston
8/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. Former Wolfpack standout and recent NC State graduate Abbie Sims has been named pitching coach at the University of Houston, as announced by Cougars head coach Kyla Holas. Sims will take over the reigns of a pitching staff that helped lead UH to C-USA regular season and tournament titles a year ago. She marks the first former State softball player to take a coaching job at the Division I level.
“I’m very proud of Abbie, and I’m excited for her as well,” said Wolfpack head coach Lisa Navas. “She helped to put our program on the map, and I have no doubt that she’ll be as successful of a coach as she was a student-athlete.”
Sims was named a 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America, the first such award in the Pack’s brief four-year program history. She had collected several NFCA distinctions before, however each previous accolade was of the all-region variety. Sims was named second-team all-region in 2005 and 2006, before taking first-team prestige in 2007.
The first-ever NC State softball player to be named ACC Player of the Year in 2007, Sims had an impressive senior campaign as she tossed four no-hitters, including a perfect game. She owned the second-best pitching record (27-7) in the conference, as well as one of the top marks in the nation. In addition, Sims is one of five pitchers in ACC history to have collected 1,000 or more career strikeouts (1,091). A native of Artesia, N.M., she also saw action as an outfielder for the Wolfpack, compiling a .292 batting average with 45 hits, 25 runs scored, 11 home runs and 27 RBIs on the year.
One of two ACC student-athletes to receive national player of the week recognition in 2007, Sims was tabbed by USA Softball (March 20) and Louisville Slugger/NFCA (April 22). She was also the only student-athlete named ACC Player of the Week four times last season. Sims made her third appearance as an All-ACC first-team member in 2007, also garnishing all-league accolades in 2005 and 2006.
Sims finished her career at NC State as the active leader in career victories among all league hurlers and fourth all-time in wins by ACC pitchers with 90 decisions. With 1,091 strikeouts, Sims places fourth all-time among ACC pitchers. Additionally, Sims’ 102 complete games ranks fifth all-time and was tops among active pitchers this past year.
Never more was Sims pitching prowess obvious than when she tossed a no-hitter over then-No. 6 Oklahoma at the Judi Garman Classic this past March 16 in Fullerton, Calif. The Sooners entered the game as the nation’s top offensive unit overall, leading the country in scoring and batting average, and ranking near the top of nearly every other hitting statistic. None of that mattered to Sims, however, who allowed just four base runners while striking out 10 batters.
Sims departed the Wolfpack owning many of the program’s all-time pitching records, including lowest career ERA (1.69), lowest opponent batting average (.179), most wins (90), saves (5), appearances (146), starts (121), complete games (102), games finished (25), shutouts (36), innings pitched (836.2), strikeouts (1,091) and batters faced (3,491).
Following her graduation with a degree in business management, Sims competed with the Rockford Thunder of the National Pro Fastpitch league in Rockford, Ill., this past summer. Sims posted a 4-2 record with the Thunder, carrying a 2.44 ERA in 43 innings of work.
Sims’ Career No-Hitters
Vs. James Madison - 2/13/05
Vs. Central Connecticut State - ^3/19/05 (6 inn.)
Vs. East Carolina - 3/30/05
Vs. Ohio - 2/9/07
Vs. No. 6 Oklahoma - 3/16/07
Vs. Virginia - *4/14/07 (5 inn.)
Vs. Campbell - *^4/18/07
*- back-to-back appearances, ^ - perfect game
Sims’ Notable Performances in 2007
- no-hitter vs. Ohio (2/9/07)
- Carolina Classic All-Tournament Team
- ACC Player of the Week (2/12/07)
- no-hitter vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (3/16/07)
- ACC Co-Player of the Week (3/19/07)
- USA Softball National Player of the Week (3/20/07)
- no-hitter vs. Virginia (4/14/07)
- ACC Player of the Week (4/16/07)
- perfect game vs. Campbell (4/18/07)
- ACC Player of the Week (4/23/07)
- Louisville Slugger/NFCA Co-Player of the Week (4/25/07)
- ACC Player of the Year
- All-ACC First-Team
- Louisville Slugger All-Southeast Region First-Team
- Louisville Slugger Third-Team All-America
