Matt Zimmerman (Basketball)
Encyclopedia
Matt Zimmerman is an assistant basketball
coach at the University of Arkansas
and a former University of Arkansas basketball team manager. After graduating from the University of Arkansas
in 1990 Zimmerman went on to serve in the United States Army
until 1995 reaching the rank of Captain. He then went on to serve as an athletic director and coach at the high school level before joining Mike Anderson's staff at UAB and Missouri. He is well known for his work ethic and commitment to coaching. Zimmerman headed up the walk-on tryouts while at both UAB and Missouri.
from 1981–1985, where his team had a combined 133-19 record in four years capped off by a 36-4 record and a state runner-up finish his junior season.
After high school, Zimmerman worked as a student manager for the Arkansas Razorbacks
for three seasons (1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90) under head coach Nolan Richardson
and assistant coach Mike Anderson
. During those three seasons Arkansas had an overall record of 76–21, a conference
record of 42–6, two conference titles, and three National Collegiate Athletic Association
tournament appearances including a final four
in 1990.
from 1990 to 1995. He graduated from the Army Airborne School in 1991 and served as Platoon Leader, shop officer, company executive officer and Battalion S-1 on his way to achieving the rank of Captain.
coaching ranks in his home state of Arkansas
. From 1995 to 1998, Zimmerman served as the Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach for the now defunct ]]Plainview-Rover High School]]. While there he led the team to three conference titles and was selected as the conference coach of the year in 1996.
In 1998 Zimmerman took the head coaching job at Dardanelle High School in Dardanelle, Arkansas
. In his four years there the team accumulated a 74-46 record and captured the Class 4A State Title in the 2001-2002 season. This success led Zimmerman to be named the KARV Dream Team Coach of the Year and River Valley Radio Coach of the Year in 2000.
was let go at the University of Arkansas, the Razorbacks hired Stan Heath
rather than long term assistant coach Mike Anderson
, who had been an assistant for 17 seasons under Richardson. Instead the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), located in Anderson's home town of Birmingham, Alabama
, gave Anderson a chance to be a head coach at a Division One basketball School. Zimmerman joined Anderson's staff at UAB until Anderson accepted the position of head basketball coach at the University of Missouri
in 2006. Zimmerman followed Anderson to Missouri and served on his staff as an assistant until Anderson accepted the head coaching job at the University of Arkansas
in 2011. On April 6, 2011 it was announced Zimmerman would join Anderson's staff at Arkansas.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and a former University of Arkansas basketball team manager. After graduating from the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in 1990 Zimmerman went on to serve in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
until 1995 reaching the rank of Captain. He then went on to serve as an athletic director and coach at the high school level before joining Mike Anderson's staff at UAB and Missouri. He is well known for his work ethic and commitment to coaching. Zimmerman headed up the walk-on tryouts while at both UAB and Missouri.
Player career
Zimmerman was a standout basketball player for Wonderview High SchoolWonderview High School
Wonderview High School is a high school in Hattieville, Conway County, Arkansas. Established in 1934, the school serves students in grades 7 through 12.-History:...
from 1981–1985, where his team had a combined 133-19 record in four years capped off by a 36-4 record and a state runner-up finish his junior season.
After high school, Zimmerman worked as a student manager for the Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
for three seasons (1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90) under head coach Nolan Richardson
Nolan Richardson
Nolan Richardson is an American basketball head coach, who was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He has coached teams to winning a NCAA Men's Division I Basketball National Championship, a NIT, and a Junior College National Championship, the only coach to do so. Most...
and assistant coach Mike Anderson
Mike Anderson
Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career...
. During those three seasons Arkansas had an overall record of 76–21, a conference
Athletic conference
An athletic conference is a collection of sports teams, playing competitively against each other at the professional, collegiate, or high school level. In many cases conferences are subdivided into smaller and smaller divisions, with the best teams competing at successively higher levels...
record of 42–6, two conference titles, and three National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
tournament appearances including a final four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
in 1990.
Military career
After college, Zimmerman served in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1990 to 1995. He graduated from the Army Airborne School in 1991 and served as Platoon Leader, shop officer, company executive officer and Battalion S-1 on his way to achieving the rank of Captain.
High School Coaching Career
Upon completing his time in the military, Zimmerman entered the basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coaching ranks in his home state of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. From 1995 to 1998, Zimmerman served as the Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach for the now defunct ]]Plainview-Rover High School]]. While there he led the team to three conference titles and was selected as the conference coach of the year in 1996.
In 1998 Zimmerman took the head coaching job at Dardanelle High School in Dardanelle, Arkansas
Dardanelle, Arkansas
Dardanelle is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,228 at the 2000 census. Along with Danville, it is one of two county seats for Yell County...
. In his four years there the team accumulated a 74-46 record and captured the Class 4A State Title in the 2001-2002 season. This success led Zimmerman to be named the KARV Dream Team Coach of the Year and River Valley Radio Coach of the Year in 2000.
College Coaching Career
When Nolan RichardsonNolan Richardson
Nolan Richardson is an American basketball head coach, who was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He has coached teams to winning a NCAA Men's Division I Basketball National Championship, a NIT, and a Junior College National Championship, the only coach to do so. Most...
was let go at the University of Arkansas, the Razorbacks hired Stan Heath
Stan Heath
Stanley Heath, III is the head men's basketball coach at the University of South Florida Bulls...
rather than long term assistant coach Mike Anderson
Mike Anderson
Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career...
, who had been an assistant for 17 seasons under Richardson. Instead the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), located in Anderson's home town of Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, gave Anderson a chance to be a head coach at a Division One basketball School. Zimmerman joined Anderson's staff at UAB until Anderson accepted the position of head basketball coach at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 2006. Zimmerman followed Anderson to Missouri and served on his staff as an assistant until Anderson accepted the head coaching job at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in 2011. On April 6, 2011 it was announced Zimmerman would join Anderson's staff at Arkansas.