Esteemed recruiter Nick Zimmerman tabbed as Mississippi State head coach

STARKVILLE – Nick Zimmerman, one of college soccer’s most dynamic recruiters and impactful assistant coaches over the last decade, has been named the seventh head soccer coach in Mississippi State history, Director of Athletics Zac Selmon announced.

“In Nick Zimmerman’s time at Mississippi State, we have seen first-hand that he is a relentless recruiter, a great developer of talent and a fearless competitor who instills confidence in the young women he leads,” Selmon said. “Nick has a clear plan for what Mississippi State Soccer can accomplish, and we know our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans are excited to see him officially at the helm. We are thrilled for Nick and Massey and know they are excited to stay home right here in Starkville, Mississippi.”

Zimmerman has spent the past six seasons in Starkville and was a driving force behind the Bulldogs’ SEC Championship run and rise to a No. 1 national ranking in 2024. He’s widely regarded as an innovative Xs and Os mind and elite culture builder.

From day one, Zimmerman has been a leader in the Starkville community, relentlessly promoting the program and helping drive record-breaking attendance to the MSU Soccer Field. Mississippi State set its top five attendance marks during the 2024 season, highlighted by 4,022 on hand in the Bulldogs’ 1-0 win against Washington in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the largest crowd in program history and the top attendance in the nation for a second-round match.

“It is an honor to lead Mississippi State Soccer, and we could not be more excited for the opportunity to continue the outstanding success that has been established,” Zimmerman said. “I’m incredibly grateful to Zac Selmon, Dr. Mark Keenum, the mentors along the way and all of the staff and players who I have a chance to work with every single day. Our players, who are resilient, talented and incredibly easy to cheer for make all our success possible. I want to extend my gratitude to the players – past and present – who have built this program to what it is today. We cannot wait to take this special program to new heights for our community and beloved university. The resources this program has received and the plans that Zac and I have discussed make me even more excited about the bright future here in Starkville!”

Zimmerman, who’s helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back Sweet Sixteen, boasts a proven background in developing talent. During his MSU tenure, he’s specialized in working with the Bulldogs’ forwards and midfielders, a focus that has yielded impressive results. During the 2024 season, Zimmerman coached five different players to All-SEC honors including Ally Perry (First Team), Macey Hodge (Midfielder of the Year), Kennedy Husbands (All-Freshman), Zoe Main (Second Team) and Aitana Martinez-Montoya (Third Team). Under Zimmerman’s guidance, 14 different Bulldogs scored goals on the season, and Perry led the SEC in shots with 96. The Bulldogs finished the year with 45 goals.

In 2023, Zimmerman played a pivotal role in leading MSU to score 26 goals, with an impressive .421 shots on goal percentage. State pushed the pace, averaging 12.2 shots per game. His contributions were a key factor in the Mississippi State Soccer Staff being named the 2023 NCAA Southeast Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches. The team achieved a historic milestone by being ranked 14th in the nation.

Zimmerman’s offensive strategies brought the Bulldogs to life in 2022, achieving 282 shots and 123 shots on goal, both ranking ninth in school history. The team’s 28 goals also made the top 10, marking the first time since 2018 that the Bulldogs outscored their opponents by more than five goals.

During his third season, the Bulldogs adopted a more aggressive offensive approach, with 194 shot attempts and 88 on goal. Despite the challenges of the 2020 season due to the global pandemic, Zimmerman led the team to a strong finish. Over a 13-game season, the Bulldogs averaged 1.38 goals per game and 12 shots per game. The spring segment was particularly notable, with 11 different players assisting on 11 goals across four matches and seven different goal scorers.

Zimmerman’s first season in Starkville was marked by setting new program records for goals, assists, and points in conference play. The Bulldogs averaged 15.1 shots per game in SEC play, ranking fourth in the league. His technical guidance was evident as nine Bulldogs scored at least once in 2019, including six first-time scorers, and 16 players recorded points, the highest since 2008.

Prior to Mississippi State, spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Columbus State where he was pivotal in building a top three scoring offense in the country.

In addition to his college coaching experience, Zimmerman has worked with Region II, US Soccer NTC, and ID2 US Club Soccer. He has been on staff at elite camps at the University of Virginia and Florida State University and served as the head coach for the Georgia Girls’ Olympic Development Program (ODP) 2000 Team. He is also a U.S. Soccer Federation coaching course instructor and has been part of the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Ranking and Awards Board. Zimmerman holds a USSF “B” License.

As a player, Zimmerman was a standout at James Madison University, earning All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rookie team recognition, two All-CAA selections, and one All-Region honor. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology and sports management, he was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and later selected by the Philadelphia Union in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft. He played with Carolina Railhawks FC in the NASL, earning NASL Best XI honors in 2012 and finishing second in the Golden Boot race. His professional career concluded with the Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL in 2015.

A Tampa, Florida native, Zimmerman also represented the U.S. U-15 National Team in 2001.

Zimmerman is engaged to Massey Miley and the couple is set to be married in 2025.