Sonoma State University Athletics

Head coach Marcus Ziemer will be entering his 33rd year and 32nd season with the SSU men's soccer program in 2023. The Seawolves men's soccer program has put together back-to-back postseason appearances qualifying for the conference tournament in 2021 and 2022. Last season, Ziemer and is squad pulled off an incredible upset over 13th ranked Cal Poly Pomona, defeating the Broncos 7-6 in penalties and advancing to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time since 2016.  

Head coach Marcus Ziemer led SSU to the CCAA Tournament Championship and to the NCAA Tournament during the 2016 season. That was the most recent NCAA Tournament appearance for the Seawolves since 2010 and the teams 9th appearance in program history. A two-time all-conference performer for Sonoma State in the 1980’s, Ziemer has compiled a 360-200-70 coaching record over the past 33 years. 

Since coming to Sonoma State, Ziemer has been named the conference’s coach of the year six times, the last coming in 2007. He is also a two-time regional coach of the year and in 2002, he was named national coach of the year after leading the Seawolves to their first national championship. 

Under Ziemer, the Sonoma State men’s soccer team has won eight conference titles and has a record of 259-123-40 in conference play.  In addition, SSU has appeared in the CCAA tournament 15 times since 2000.

Ziemer began his coaching career in 1989, assisting head coach Peter Reynaud with the SSU men’s squad.  In 1991, after Reynaud left to concentrate on the women’s team, Ziemer was promoted to head coach and results came immediately.  Ziemer led his squad to the NCAA championship game and he was named Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Year for his efforts.

In 1988, Ziemer spent three weeks in England earning an English Football International Preliminary Badge.  He earned his USSF “A” license the following year.  A fixture in local soccer circles, Ziemer and his three brothers (Andrew, Benjamin, Christopher -- all former SSU players) have run the Ziemer Brothers Soccer Camps for over 20 years, educating thousands of youth soccer players.

Ziemer lives in Rohnert Parkl with his wife Trish (Gretton), a member of SSU’s 1990 women’s soccer national championship team. They have three children, Thomas, Taylor, and Tera.