Gilmer High School’s longest tenured soccer coaches have resigned.
Simon Phipps spent seven seasons as the Bobcats’ head coach, and April Nicholson led the Lady Cats for 10 years. They helped their respective programs achieve feats that were never previously obtained.
Phipps spent two years as an assistant under previous head coach Kees DeVente. Phipps, born in Essex, England, took over the head coaching reins in 2016.
“The first year I mainly spent learning about the region and how high school soccer worked in the U.S. At the end of the year, Coach DeVente resigned, and I was offered the head coaching position and a transfer to the high school. The boys have qualified for state four times during my time as head coach. I have seen the program grow and develop, and I am happy to have been a small part of that.”
Phipps is the Bobcats’ all-time wins leader and posted a 38-51-6 record, and Gilmer’s trip to the state playoffs in 2017 was its first in school history.
GHS achieved a program best 10 wins in 2022 and finished with its best-ever record of 10-5-1. They were 5-2 versus region opponents and finished third in the final region standings, which are tops in GHS history.
For his efforts, Phipps was named Region 7-3A coach of the year at the conclusion of the season.
Phipps discussed his reasons for leaving the program and what lies ahead.
“I am in the process of finishing up my M.Ed in teacher leadership and have been looking to move out of coaching and into gaining more experience in all levels of education,” Phipps said. “I am pleased to say that I am moving to Ellijay Elementary School to continue with my professional growth, and I am excited about this new opportunity.
“I wish Taylor Johnstone all the best as he transfers into the position of head coach, and I know that the boys and the program are in safe hands.”
Johnstone was Phipps’ assistant for four seasons. Over that span, GHS posted a record of 25-21-1.
Nicholson spent her time teaching at GHS until this school year. She discussed her reason for stepping away, noting, “In January of this year, I was asked to teach at another location in the county. I haven’t been very happy in this current position, because I don’t think it is where I can best serve the students in the community.
“Additionally, it makes coaching very difficult when you are not at the same school as your athletes. I made my desire to return to a traditional classroom known, and I also expressed that I would not be able to coach if I were not in a traditional classroom.”
Nicholson ranks No. 1 for Lady Cat soccer wins and compiled a 47-74-10 record. Under her guidance, GHS set a record for wins in 2017 (8), which also marked the year of the Cats’ first-ever state playoff appearance. GHS achieved its only winning seasons in 2019 (6-4-4) and 2021 (6-5-1).
Nicholson said most of her family and longtime friends never envisioned her coaching. In addition to her time with Lady Cats soccer, she was a cross-country assistant for four years.
“I came into both sports blissfully ignorant, but I think in a lot of ways that helped us to be successful,” Nicholson said. “I had no preconceived ideas of what coaching was ‘supposed to be like’; I was very much able to make it my own.
“Prior to Coach Josh Fountain and I taking over, I don’t think the girls won a single game. That first year, we beat Fannin for the first time in program history. We went on to make three playoff appearances in regions where our opponents went on to win state. A little drive and motivation go a long way.”
Nicholson is moving on to teach at Fannin County Middle School where she will coach soccer. She is thankful for the people she has met in Gilmer over the years.
“I love my athletes tremendously, and building those relationships has been a pillar of our program. We have shared a lot of laughs, our share of tears and a lifetime of memories. I’ll always love watching them play soccer.
“GHS is blessed with a very dedicated athletic director in Matt Johnson. He goes out of his way to help his coaches and his athletes. It has been an incredible honor to work with him for the past four years.”
Along with Johnstone for the Bobcats, longtime CCMS coach Adam Palmer was named the new Lady Cats’ head coach Monday morning.