Jamie Zorbo
Head Coach

Jamie Zorbo was named head football coach at Kalamazoo College on Dec. 4, 2007. He is the 25th head football coach in school history and a 2000 graduate of the College.

“I am excited to be back at my alma mater,” Zorbo said. “I love Kalamazoo College and believe in the educational program, the football program, and the direction of the athletic department. I’m glad to be back home.”

Kalamazoo College’s Director of Athletics Kristen Smith said, “I am pleased that Coach Zorbo has accepted the head coaching position. His passion for and knowledge of this program and the College will help us move forward quickly to bring in a strong recruiting class.

“As a former scholar-athlete and coach, Coach Zorbo understands the academic and athletic expectations of Kalamazoo College,” she added. “Coach Zorbo was an exceptional coach in his previous position here. His experience at DePauw polished his skills, and he returns to the College prepared to lead this program.”

Kalamazoo College President Eileen B. Wilson-Oyelaran said, “We are excited about Coach Zorbo’s return to campus. Kalamazoo College is strongly committed to the football program and our student-athletes, and Coach Zorbo’s passion and drive will carry this program forward.”

Zorbo first came to Kalamazoo College as a student in 1996 after graduating from Battle Creek Lakeview High School. He was a four-year letter winner for the Hornets as a defensive end, earning All-MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) second team honors in 1999 with 24 tackles and three sacks. He graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

Following graduation, Zorbo remained at Kalamazoo College as an assistant coach for six seasons while working on a master’s in business administration degree at Western Michigan University, which he completed in 2004. The Hornets had an overall record of 26-32 over those six seasons, including four straight .500-plus seasons from 2000-03.

Zorbo coached the defensive line from 2000-03. He was promoted to defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2004 and 2005. As defensive coordinator, Zorbo had six players named to All-MIAA first, second or coaches’ honorable mention teams, including NCAA Division III’s leading tackler and MIAA Defensive MVP in 2004 (Jeremy Vanisacker). As defensive line coach, Zorbo coached four players to All-MIAA second or coaches’ honorable mention teams.

Zorbo became an assistant coach at DePauw University (Greencastle, Ind.) in 2006. He coached the linebackers for two seasons, and most recently was the assistant defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and strength and conditioning coach. In two seasons, Zorbo coached five linebackers who received All-SCAC (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) second team or honorable mention honors. DePauw finished 6-4 in 2006 and 8-2 in 2007.

“I look forward to hitting the ground running,” Zorbo said. “Our number one priority right now is recruiting and attracting exceptional student-athletes to our great campus. We want to take the program to a new level and I believe we can do that.”

Jamie and his wife, Kristy, reside in Portage.

Van Nickert
Assistant Coach - Equipment Manager - Director of Intramurals

Van Nickert returned as an assistant coach on the Hornet football staff in 2005 after serving as head coach in 2004.

Nickert served the Hornets as an assistant coach for 21 seasons prior to taking over the helm in 2004. He has served in numerous roles, including defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. Nickert was defensive coordinator from 2000-2003.

As defensive coordinator in 2003, Nickert led the league's top-ranked defense. The Hornets led the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in scoring defense (18.5 points/game), rushing defense (120.5 yards/game), total defense (291.4 yards/game), fewest opponent first downs (16.1 per game), opponent’s fourth-down conversion success (26.9 percent), and opponent’s third-down conversion success (34.1 percent). The Hornets were second in pass defense (170.9 yards/game), pass defense efficiency (103.1), and sacks (2.3 per game). The Hornets were third in red zone defense. Out of 225 NCAA Division III schools, Kalamazoo ranked 43rd in total defense, 48th in rushing defense, 59th in pass efficiency defense, and 58th in scoring defense.

Nickert graduated from Western Michigan University in 1981 with a degree in education.

In addition to serving as an assistant football coach, Nickert is the College’s equipment manager and director of the intramural program.

Van and his wife, Lana, reside in Kalamazoo with their daughters, Allison (14) and Haley (12).

Eric Soulier
Assistant Coach

Eric Soulier joined the staff in 2004 as a graduate assistant. Soulier coached the defensive line in 2004 and 2005, and was promoted to full-time status in 2006.

Soulier graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2000 with a degree in computer science. He earned a master's degree in educational leadership from Western Michigan University in 2006.

Following graduation from Kalamazoo, Soulier taught math and served as defensive coordinator at Paw Paw High School. He then moved to Arizona where he served as defensive coordinator on the jayvee football team at Palo Verde High School in Tucson for two seasons. He was head coach of the freshman team in 2003.

Soulier was a four-year letter winner for the Hornet football team and a two-year starter at cornerback. He was selected as MIAA Defensive Player of the Week in 1998 after intercepting three passes against Oberlin College in the season opener. He had 84 career tackles (58 solo), 12 pass break-ups, and four interceptions. Soulier tied for the team-lead in pass break-ups (10) and earned coaches' honorable mention honors in 1999.

Eric and his wife, Kate, reside in Kalamazoo.

John Krajacic
Assistant Coach

John Krajacic begins his first year as the Hornets' defensive line coach in 2008.

Krajacic played defensive end for the Hornets for four years (2000-03) and graduated from Kalamazoo College with a degree in economics and business in 2004. He had a career-high four tackles in a game against Albion (2003) and had a career total of three sacks. After college, Krajacic played one season at defensive end for the semi-pro Detroit Downriver Diesels in 2006.

Krajacic served as the junior varsity defensive line coach at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School in 2007.

John is currently pursuing a master's degree in education along with a teaching certificate through Western Michigan University.

Mike Garoutte
Assistant Coach

Mike Garoutte begins his first season on the Hornet football coaching staff in 2008. He will assist on defense and coach the defensive backs.

Garoutte joined Kalamazoo College in the summer of 2007 as head softball coach and completed his first season with the Hornets in 2008. He came to Kalamazoo College from Arizona where he served as the co-head coach of the Boulder Creek High School softball team. Prior to coaching in Arizona, Garoutte served as an assistant softball coach at Central Washington University from 2003-06.

Garoutte was an All-State high school football player in Virginia and went on to play at Boise State University before suffering a career-ending injury in the spring of 1983. He began coaching high school football in 1993 and served as the defensive coordinator at four different high schools from 1993-2002 where he coached several All-District and All-State players.

Garoutte holds a bachelor’s degree in biology education from Central Washington University (1998) and is currently completing a master’s degree in exercise science. Garoutte played competitive fastpitch softball in the U.S. military from 1988-1991.

Matt Rix
Assistant Coach

Matt Rix begins his first season on the Hornet football coaching staff in 2008. He will assist on offense and coach the running backs.

Rix, a 2000 graduate of Kalamazoo College, returned to his alma mater in 2005 as assistant baseball coach, helping lead the Hornets to a school-record 20 wins in just his second season (2006). He was promoted to head baseball coach that summer and completed his second season as head coach this past spring. The Hornets have posted double-digit win totals each of his four seasons on staff while setting numerous individual and team records.

Rix was a four-year letter winner on the mound as a player for the Hornets and was team captain in 2000. In 1998 he earned team most valuable player and team most improved player honors. He also earned coaches honorable mention honors in 1998. Rix was on the Dean's List and the MIAA Academic Honor Roll all four years.

As a student at Kalamazoo College, Rix studied abroad in Bonn, Germany during the fall of his junior year. He holds a degree in philosophy from Kalamazoo and earned a law degree from Michigan State University in May of 2004. He passed the Michigan Bar exam and is currently an associate at Peter F. Davis & Associates, PC in Mattawan, Mich.

Dustin Neill
Student Coach

Dustin Neill completed his first season as a student coach in 2007. He worked primarily with the defensive line.

Neill is a sophomore at Kalamazoo College double majoring in math and physics.

Neill worked with the football team as a manger in 2006. He worked in the sports information office during the winter and spring quarters of 2007, and served as the official scorer at Kalamazoo College baseball and softball games.

Neill is a 2006 graduate of Berkley High School.

Scott Michel enters his sixth year at Kalamazoo College in 2008-09.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa.. From there he went on to receive his Master of Arts degree from Western Michigan University, while doing his graduate assistant rotation at Kalamazoo College. Prior to re-joining the 'K' community, Scott worked at Mercyhurst as an athletic trainer for men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, and men’s lacrosse.

Scott oversees the daily operations of two athletic training facilities and the medical coverage of all athletic events. He currently teaches a Care and Treatment of Injuries course at Kalamazoo College.

Scott and his wife, Heather, reside in Kalamazoo.

Greg Brown serves as Kalamazoo College's assistant equipment manager, a position he has held since 1974.

Also known as "Hammer," Greg works with most of the athletic teams, taking care of laundry and locker room facilities. A Kalamazoo resident, Brown graduated from Loy Norrix High School and earned an associates degree in general building maintenance from State Tech in 1973.