Benjamin Ziemer, head coach Marcus’ younger brother, returns for his seventh season on the Seawolf staff in 2011-12.
Ziemer attended Sonoma State in 1990 and 1991 and ranks seventh in school history with 21 assists. His 11 assists in the 1991 season helped lead SSU to the NCAA Division II National Championship game. During College, he played for the Greek Americans in the San Fransisco Major Divisions. After college, Benjamin moved to Germany where he played for Westfalia Herne (German 4th Division) for two seasons. Upon returning home he played in the USISL for the North Bay Breakers and for Juventus SC in the California Premier League.
Ziemer is also a staff coach for the U.S. Soccer National Training Centers, a U.S. Soccer Scout and an assistant coach for the U.S. Club Soccer id2 National Selection team, which travels abroad each year with 18 players chosen from across the country. In addition, he is the League Manager of the NorCal Premier Soccer League and their Director of Coaching Education.
He recently stepped down as head coach of the Sonoma County Sol after five years. In 2009, he guided the undefeated Sonoma County Sol to the National Premier Soccer League Championship. During his time with the Sol, the team reached the National Premier Soccer League Finals three times, the US Amateur Cup Finals once and the US Open Cup knock out rounds twice.
Before rejoining SSU in 2004, Benjamin was the Director of Coaching for Rohnert Park Express (1996-99), the Assistant Director and Academy Director of Santa Rosa United (2001-03), the National Director of Education for Ajax Orlando, the U.S. affiliate of Ajax Amsterdam (2003-04) and the Technical Director of Sonoma County Alliance (2005-07).
Benjamin has his USSF A license, his German (DFB) B license and he has studied at over 60 professional clubs worldwide. He has worked with Frans Hoek Camps, Ziemer Brothers Soccer Camps and currently works with ACF Fiorentina, an Italian first division team - in their partnership with Norcal Premier Soccer involving Coaching Education and Player Development. Since he began coaching in his brother's camps in his early teens, he has coached teams in every age group in youth soccer from U9 to U19. In addition, he has been the head coach of two high school boys programs.
Benjamin lives in Sebastopol with his wife Daniela and his two children, Alexander and Tatjana.
