Longtime Capital High football coach Todd Simis will step down. ‘The time is right.’
After 18 years leading the Capital High football team, every Friday night going forward could mark the final game of head coach Todd Simis’ career.
Simis, 53, announced earlier this week he would hand over his coaching whistle at the end of the Eagles’ season.
Capital (5-3) takes on city rival Timberline (5-3) in a 5A SIC cross-division game Friday at Dona Larsen Park. A win would extend Capital’s season and clinch the Eagles a playoff berth. A loss could end the season depending on a variety of tiebreakers.
“The time is right, and I have no regrets about the decision as it comes to a close,” Simis wrote in a text message to the Idaho Statesman. “It has been the highlight of my professional life to hold this job, and we have worked hard at honoring the traditions and sustaining the success that Capital has always had.
“Thirty-one years of coaching football has given me so much in terms of relationships and memories. It’s the camaraderie that I will miss.”
Simis will remain as a teacher and Capital’s assistant track coach.
Simis took over the Capital football program in 2004, leading the Eagles to a 133-54 (.711) record entering Friday. In his previous 17 seasons, Capital never had a losing season, only missed the playoffs once (2006), won eight league or division titles and brought home three state runner-up trophies.
Simis said he’s most proud of continuing that tradition of success at Capital, where he’s just the fifth head coach since the school opened in 1965. His 133 wins at Capital trail only Tom Swindell, who went 140-40 (.778) between 1968 and 1985.
But some of his favorite memories come from coaching, and coaching alongside, his son Makena, who’s in his fourth year as an assistant. Simis’ wife, Lissa, is also an assistant athletic trainer. And his daughter, Peyton, was a cheerleader at Capital.
“I have been blessed, to say the least,” Simis said.
Simis also previously was the head coach at Boise High, going 4-51 in six seasons for a career record of 137-105 (.566) entering the week. He started his coaching career at East Junior High before joining Boise and then moving to Capital.
