Head Coach Keller Sims returns to the Razorback Hockey Coaching Staff for his eighth season. Hailing from Wichita Falls Texas, Coach Sims enjoyed a successful hockey career in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he would finish his career playing three seasons in the Texas Brahmas system before enrolling at the University of Arkansas.
Since taking over coaching duties in the 2017-18 season, Coach Sims has helped lead the Hogs on a unprecedented run of success, including six nationals appearances in seven years. Coach Sims helped lead the team to the programs best finish, National Runner Up in 2021, in addition to the programs first two Frozen Four appearances. In addition to their national success, Coach Sims’ Razorbacks have also had tremendous success at the conference level: 2017-18 SECHC Champions, 2019-20 Pacific Region #1 Seed, 2021-22 MACHA South Division Champions, 2021-22 MACHA Conference Regular Season Champions, 2021-22 MACHA Conference Tournament Champions, 2022-23 MACHA Conference Tournament Runner Up.
As a result of leading his team to a 29-3-2 record and conference title, Coach Sims was rewarded with the highest honors from his peers, the ACHA National Coach of the Year. In addition, Coach Sims was named MACHA Silver coach of the year. To start the 2024-25 season, Coach Sims has been named the Director of Hockey Operations for Arkansas Hockey. In this new role, he will serve as Head Coach for the DII team as well as overseeing hockey operations, scheduling, coaches, and recruiting for the entire program. As of the completion of the 2023-24 season, Coach Sims boasts a regular and post season record of 160-41-3 (78.43%), including a record of 12-3-3 in the national tournament.
Coach Sims holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in kinesiology from the University of Arkansas (’13) and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (’19). Away from the rink, Coach Sims is a licensed Physical Therapist in the state of Arkansas and has a passion for helping individuals who are affected with amputation, serving as the head physical therapist for the amputee program at Encompass Heath and Rehab Fayetteville. In his spare time, he enjoys to golf, exercise, and spend time with his wife Cailtyn, and sons Nash and Parker.
