Paul Zimmerman enters the eighth season of his current tenure and his 20th season overall in 2023 as an assistant coach for the Salisbury University men’s soccer team.

Under Zimmerman from 2015 to 2020, Salisbury goalkeepers have been honored and recognized more than any other position. This includes seven Capital Athletic Conference Defensive Players of The Week, an ECAC Regional Defensive Player of The Week, two All-CAC selections, an NSCAA All-South Atlantic nod, an NSCAA Men’s Scholar All-East Region selection, an ECAC All-South Region honoree, and a D3Soccer.com All America honor. Those same goalkeepers posted 33 shutouts and a .863 GAA in that span.

Zimmerman also helped lead the Parkside High School men’s soccer program as an assistant coach from 2013 to 2019, a stretch that saw the Rams post a 77-19-8 record (.779), reach seven Maryland State Sectional Semifinals, compete in the regional finals twice and be named a State Semi-Finalist.

Zimmerman played his collegiate soccer at Salisbury University (then Salisbury State College) from 1978 to 1981. He was the team’s primary net-minder from 1979-81 and ranks fourth in program history in career saves (239). He was a First-Team All-Maryland Division II-III honoree in 1979 as well.

Zimmerman’s coaching experience began as a student assistant for Salisbury in 1982, followed by a graduate assistant position with the Sea Gulls from 1983-84. He was then named the lead assistant coach and held the title from 1985-86. He returned to SU in 2008 as the Preseason Goalkeeper Trainer, serving in that capacity until 2015, when he was named an assistant coach for the team.

In addition to his contributions to Sea Gull Soccer, Zimmerman worked in the Office of Admissions at SU from 1988-2004 as an Athletic Recruiting Liaison and Associate Dean of Admission. He also served in the Maryland State Police from 2004-2020, reaching Master Trooper before his retirement. Zimmerman has also served as a Groundskeeper for Salisbury University since 2020.

Zimmerman earned his Bachelor’s degree in Leisure Studies from Salisbury in 1982 before completing his Master’s degree in Education in 1986. is the proud father of two former players and Salisbury University graduates: Matthew Zimmerman, Class of 2018, and Mark Zimmerman, Class of 2022.