Don Zimmerman
Encyclopedia
Donald "Don" Zimmerman (born c.
1953) is an American lacrosse
coach. He is currently serving as the head coach for the UMBC Retrievers
at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a position he has held since 1994. Between 1984 and 1987, Zimmerman coached Johns Hopkins to three national championships
. In 2009, The Baltimore Sun
called him "the best coach in college lacrosse."
. While there, the lacrosse team on which he played won three Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
(MIAA) championships. Zimmerman then attended Randolph-Macon College
before he transferred to Johns Hopkins University
. He played lacrosse as a midfielder for the Blue Jays in 1975 and 1976. His senior year, he received honorable mention All-American honors and the Turnbull-Reynold Award for leadership and sportsmanship. He graduated in 1976.
. From 1979 to 1982, he served as an assistant under Willie Scroggs at the University of North Carolina. While there, the Tar Heels
won the national championship in 1981
and 1982
.
, and became the head coach in 1984 after the retirement of Henry Ciccarone
. That year, he led the Blue Jays to a perfect 14–0 season and became the first head coach to win an NCAA championship in his first season. In 1985, Hopkins again won the national title while suffering one loss. The following year, the Blue Jays compiled a 10–2 record, and were eliminated in the semifinals in overtime by the eventual national champions, North Carolina. In 1987, Zimmerman led the team to a 10–3 record and a third title. Upon expiration of his contract, he left Hopkins after compiling a 6–5 record in 1990. The reason he cited was the pressure associated with the high-profile position. In total, Zimmerman's teams at Johns Hopkins posted a 73–15 record.
Current Hopkins head coach Dave Pietramala
spent his entire college playing career under Zimmerman, from 1986 to 1989. Former North Carolina and Hopkins head coach John Haus played for the Tar Heels under Zimmerman and then served as his assistant at Johns Hopkins. Zimmerman was the United States national team's assistant coach for the 1986 World Games
.
as an assistant for the Greyhounds
under Dave Cottle
, before he was hired as head coach by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). The Retrievers
continued to struggle early in Zimmerman's tenure, and during his first three seasons compiled a 14–25 mark. After a 3–9 campaign in 1996, UMBC became the most improved team in the nation with a 9–3 record for the 1997 season. In 1998, the Retrievers delivered a major upset by beating, 12–8, then first-ranked Maryland, the eventual national championship runners-up. The victory helped UMBC secure its first ever berth in the NCAA tournament
. In 1999, the Retrievers again made an appearance in the tournament. Zimmerman coached the South squad in the 2002 North-South Senior All-Star Game
.
In 2005, UMBC posted a 5–1 conference mark to achieve the America East
regular season conference championship. The following year, the Retrievers defeated Binghamton
and Albany
in the America East tournament for the conference championship, and Zimmerman made his tenth appearance
as a head coach in the NCAA tournament. He was named the 2006 America East Coach of the Year. In 2007, UMBC again advanced past Binghamton before falling to Albany in the America East championship game, and secured another
berth in the NCAA tournament. There, they upset seventh-seeded Maryland in the first round for the school's first appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals.
In 2008, UMBC again faced Albany in the America East championship game. Halfway through the second period, the Retrievers trailed 11–2, but rallied to edge their opponents, 14–13. Zimmerman was named the 2008 America East Coach of the Year. In June, he was considered the frontrunner to replace John Haus who had been fired as North Carolina's head coach, but Zimmerman removed his name from consideration. He said, "The people at UMBC have been good to me, and this is my home ... these are my kids and I recruited them. I just didn't think this was the right time to move." UMBC granted Zimmerman a contract extension through the 2014 season.
In 2009, UMBC captured its fifth consecutive outright or shared America East regular season title. In the conference semifinals, the Retrievers edged Binghamton, 9–8. In the final, however, UMBC jumped out to an early lead over Albany and never relinquished it, and won, 15–7. Zimmerman was named the 2009 America East Coach of the Year. In the first round of the NCAA tournament
, the Retrievers faced sixth-seeded North Carolina. UMBC entered the game with the number-one ranked midfield in the nation, but it was lacking in depth, and the first-string was thus forced to play most of the 90 °F (32.2 °C) game. The Retrievers led 8–6 at halftime, but North Carolina assumed control during the third period and went on to win, 15–13. That season, The Baltimore Sun
called Zimmerman "the best coach in college lacrosse."
While coach at UMBC, Zimmerman has traveled to Japan
, Argentina
, and the United Kingdom
in order to promote the sport of lacrosse. In 2002, 2004, and 2006, UMBC hosted fall scrimmages against teams from Keio University
. In the summer of 2005, the Retrievers traveled to Japan. Regarding the possibility of the sport being a future Olympic event, Zimmerman said, "It’s incumbent upon us to introduce and develop the game when opportunities occur in order to reach that goal." The Greater Baltimore Chapter of the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame inducted Zimmerman on January 25, 2003.
with his wife, Dorothy. They have two adult children, a son and a daughter.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1953) is an American lacrosse
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
coach. He is currently serving as the head coach for the UMBC Retrievers
UMBC Retrievers men's lacrosse
The UMBC Retrievers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college lacrosse competition. The Retrievers play their home games at UMBC Stadium, located in Baltimore, Maryland with a capacity of 4,500...
at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a position he has held since 1994. Between 1984 and 1987, Zimmerman coached Johns Hopkins to three national championships
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
. In 2009, The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
called him "the best coach in college lacrosse."
Early life
Zimmerman attended St. Paul's School in Brooklandville, MarylandBrooklandville, Maryland
Brooklandville is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States near where the Jones Falls Expressway meets the Baltimore Beltway. The general area is a part of Lutherville, and some addresses in the area are considered to be in Lutherville, though Brooklandville has a...
. While there, the lacrosse team on which he played won three Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association is a boys' sports conference for private high schools generally located in the Baltimore metropolitan area but extending to various other regions, including the state's mostly rural Eastern Shore. The MIAA has 27 member schools and offers...
(MIAA) championships. Zimmerman then attended Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
before he transferred to Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He played lacrosse as a midfielder for the Blue Jays in 1975 and 1976. His senior year, he received honorable mention All-American honors and the Turnbull-Reynold Award for leadership and sportsmanship. He graduated in 1976.
Early coaching positions
After graduating, Zimmerman remained at Hopkins for a season to coach the lacrosse program's B squad in 1977. He spent the following season as an assistant coach at Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. From 1979 to 1982, he served as an assistant under Willie Scroggs at the University of North Carolina. While there, the Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's lacrosse team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
won the national championship in 1981
1981 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1981 Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship game was played at Princeton University in front of 13,943 fans. North Carolina capped off a 12 and 0 season with its first-ever NCAA championship, as they defeated Johns Hopkins, 14 to 13. The Tar Heels were led by coach Willie Scroggs, formerly...
and 1982
1982 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1982 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 12th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
.
Johns Hopkins
In 1983, he returned to his alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, and became the head coach in 1984 after the retirement of Henry Ciccarone
Henry Ciccarone
Henry A. "Chic" Ciccarone was an American college lacrosse coach. He was the head coach of the lacrosse team at Johns Hopkins University from 1975 to 1983, during which time he amassed a 105–16 record. Ciccarone guided the Blue Jays to three consecutive national championships from 1978 to 1980...
. That year, he led the Blue Jays to a perfect 14–0 season and became the first head coach to win an NCAA championship in his first season. In 1985, Hopkins again won the national title while suffering one loss. The following year, the Blue Jays compiled a 10–2 record, and were eliminated in the semifinals in overtime by the eventual national champions, North Carolina. In 1987, Zimmerman led the team to a 10–3 record and a third title. Upon expiration of his contract, he left Hopkins after compiling a 6–5 record in 1990. The reason he cited was the pressure associated with the high-profile position. In total, Zimmerman's teams at Johns Hopkins posted a 73–15 record.
Current Hopkins head coach Dave Pietramala
Dave Pietramala
Dave Pietramala is the current Head Coach for the Johns Hopkins University Men's Lacrosse team. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest defensemen in lacrosse history, and is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He is the only person to win an NCAA national championship as both a...
spent his entire college playing career under Zimmerman, from 1986 to 1989. Former North Carolina and Hopkins head coach John Haus played for the Tar Heels under Zimmerman and then served as his assistant at Johns Hopkins. Zimmerman was the United States national team's assistant coach for the 1986 World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
.
UMBC
Zimmerman spent three years at LoyolaLoyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
as an assistant for the Greyhounds
Loyola Greyhounds men's lacrosse
The Loyola University Greyhounds are the NCAA Division I men's collegiate lacrosse team that represents Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland...
under Dave Cottle
Dave Cottle
Dave Cottle is an American lacrosse coach. He is currently a consultant to the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse and Marquette University, which announced it was addding men's and women's varsity lacrosse on December 16, 2010. He was previously the head coach for the Maryland Terrapins...
, before he was hired as head coach by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). The Retrievers
UMBC Retrievers men's lacrosse
The UMBC Retrievers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college lacrosse competition. The Retrievers play their home games at UMBC Stadium, located in Baltimore, Maryland with a capacity of 4,500...
continued to struggle early in Zimmerman's tenure, and during his first three seasons compiled a 14–25 mark. After a 3–9 campaign in 1996, UMBC became the most improved team in the nation with a 9–3 record for the 1997 season. In 1998, the Retrievers delivered a major upset by beating, 12–8, then first-ranked Maryland, the eventual national championship runners-up. The victory helped UMBC secure its first ever berth in the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
. In 1999, the Retrievers again made an appearance in the tournament. Zimmerman coached the South squad in the 2002 North-South Senior All-Star Game
North-South Senior All-Star Game
The North-South Senior All-Star Game is an annual postseason college lacrosse game featuring the best players from the graduating class. It is hosted by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association , one of the college sport's main governing bodies. The inaugural event occurred in 1940 at...
.
In 2005, UMBC posted a 5–1 conference mark to achieve the America East
America East Conference
The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...
regular season conference championship. The following year, the Retrievers defeated Binghamton
Binghamton Bearcats
The Binghamton Bearcats are an NCAA Division I athletics program at Binghamton University. They are one of four Division I programs in the SUNY system and a member of the America East Conference.-History:...
and Albany
Albany Great Danes Men's Lacrosse
The Albany Great Danes men's lacrosse team represents the University at Albany in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. Albany currently competes in the America East Conference and plays its home games on John Fallon Field. The team reached the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament in...
in the America East tournament for the conference championship, and Zimmerman made his tenth appearance
2006 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 36th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The semifinals and...
as a head coach in the NCAA tournament. He was named the 2006 America East Coach of the Year. In 2007, UMBC again advanced past Binghamton before falling to Albany in the America East championship game, and secured another
2007 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 12 through May 28, 2007. This was the 37th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
berth in the NCAA tournament. There, they upset seventh-seeded Maryland in the first round for the school's first appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals.
In 2008, UMBC again faced Albany in the America East championship game. Halfway through the second period, the Retrievers trailed 11–2, but rallied to edge their opponents, 14–13. Zimmerman was named the 2008 America East Coach of the Year. In June, he was considered the frontrunner to replace John Haus who had been fired as North Carolina's head coach, but Zimmerman removed his name from consideration. He said, "The people at UMBC have been good to me, and this is my home ... these are my kids and I recruited them. I just didn't think this was the right time to move." UMBC granted Zimmerman a contract extension through the 2014 season.
In 2009, UMBC captured its fifth consecutive outright or shared America East regular season title. In the conference semifinals, the Retrievers edged Binghamton, 9–8. In the final, however, UMBC jumped out to an early lead over Albany and never relinquished it, and won, 15–7. Zimmerman was named the 2009 America East Coach of the Year. In the first round of the NCAA tournament
2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 9 through May 25, 2009. This was the 39th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
, the Retrievers faced sixth-seeded North Carolina. UMBC entered the game with the number-one ranked midfield in the nation, but it was lacking in depth, and the first-string was thus forced to play most of the 90 °F (32.2 °C) game. The Retrievers led 8–6 at halftime, but North Carolina assumed control during the third period and went on to win, 15–13. That season, The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
called Zimmerman "the best coach in college lacrosse."
While coach at UMBC, Zimmerman has traveled to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in order to promote the sport of lacrosse. In 2002, 2004, and 2006, UMBC hosted fall scrimmages against teams from Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
. In the summer of 2005, the Retrievers traveled to Japan. Regarding the possibility of the sport being a future Olympic event, Zimmerman said, "It’s incumbent upon us to introduce and develop the game when opportunities occur in order to reach that goal." The Greater Baltimore Chapter of the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame inducted Zimmerman on January 25, 2003.
Personal life
Zimmerman lives in Towson, MarylandTowson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
with his wife, Dorothy. They have two adult children, a son and a daughter.
External links
- Fan Zone: Don Zimmerman, Inside LacrosseInside LacrosseInside Lacrosse is a lacrosse media entity and ESPN affiliate. It includes many parts including a news website, an 11 times annual magazine, online video streaming, internet forums and an ESPN television show...