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Kalamazoo College Football Coaching
Staff
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.” |
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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). |
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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. |
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| Jacob
Johnson
Assistant Coach
Jacob Johnson began his first season as an assistant
coach in 2006.
Johnson is a 2001 graduate of The College of Wooster
where he majored in political science. As a basketball
player, Johnson was a member of two North Coast Athletic
Conference championship teams and made two NCAA Division
III tournament appearances. He also excelled in track,
setting school records in three events while earning
all-conference honors in seven events.
Johnson has been an assistant basketball coach at Hiram
College and Case Western Reserve University. Most recently,
Johnson was the head boys basketball coach at Portage
Central High School in 2005-06.
Johnson currently serves as the associate minister at Galilee Baptist Church in Kalamazoo. |
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Rob
Atwood
Assistant Coach
Rob Atwood joins the football coaching staff for the
2007 season.
Atwood is a 2007 graduate of Kalamazoo College and
a four-year letter winner for the Hornets as a defensive
back. He recorded 122 career tackles with four tackles
for loss, one interception and one sack. He had a career-best
78 tackles in 2005 as a junior. He recorded 14 tackles
against Tri-State on Nov. 12, 2005. In 2006, Atwood
received the Marigene Arnold Unsung Hero Award.
Atwood earned a double-major in psychology and economics.
He studied abroad in Strasbourg, France the spring of
his sophomore year. His senior individualized project
was an analysis of the economic consequences of the
Kalamazoo Promise.
Atwood plans to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. |
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Dustin Neill
Student Coach
Dustin Neill begins his first season as a student coach in 2007. He will work 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. |
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Scott
Michel
Head Athletic Trainer
Scott Michel enters his
fifth year at Kalamazoo College in 2007-08.
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.
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Greg
Brown
Assistant Equipment Manager
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. |
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