ERNIE SIMS OPENS TRAINING FACILITY IN TALLAHASSEE

Original article posted on Tallahassee Democrat by Jim Henry
Photo Credit: Mike Ewen/Democrat

At age 30 and retired from the NFL after eight seasons, Ernie Sims wondered where the next step in his life would take him.

Prayer, family discussions and a passion for health, sports performance and mentoring helped Sims discover that answer.

"The next chapter in my life is just beginning," Sims said. "The opportunity presented itself, I saw the vision and I just took off with it. "This is what came out of it."

The former North Florida Christian and Florida State star linebacker has opened a training facility in Tallahassee off Capital Circle SW. The grand opening for Ernie Sims Big H.I.T.S. Performance is Saturday at 10 a.m.

The 10,000-square-foot facility features a synthetic turf field, traditional weights and fitness programs for youth and adults, men and women, from beginners to professional athletes.

Sims, selected ninth overall in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, also says his facility will assist with health, wellness, nutrition and reflect the name's (H.I.T.S.) mission statement - Helping to Instill Tools for Success.

In 2008, Sims started Ernie Sims Big H.I.T.S. Foundation, which is geared to providing support to community-based organizations that offer services to disadvantage youth and adults and to assist organizations that support animal humanity.

"When I thought about my passion and thought about how I was raised, my parents instilled values in me that a lot of youth in our community haven't had the opportunity to receive," said Sims, married with two young children. "We want to help them not only in sports, but we want to help them in life. Sports is a great avenue that also taught me important

 values – discipline, determination – good core values that we are going to build on in our fitness programs."