Joe Zakowicz begins his second season as the Ave Maria University men’s soccer coach in 2012, and his thirteenth season as head coach in the collegiate ranks.
Under Zakowicz's direction, the Ave Maria men’s soccer team has taken some great strides forward. The Gyrenes knocked off two time defending conference champions, St. Thomas University, in a late season clash, and placed two players on the all-conference team, and garnered the respect of his peers with his selection as the conference coach of the year.
Coach Zakowicz joined Ave Maria University after being away from the collegiate environment for one season. “We ventured out to test the business world, to change our lifestyle” said Zakowicz. “What I have learned in my one season away from the field, is quite simple. This is where I have the most impact- This is what I love to do… and I have never been more focused or more committed to impacting our players...physically, mentally, and spiritually than I am right now.” Zakowicz is a proven success on both the men's and women's NAIA circuit. He was the architect of the Mid-Continent University Men’s Soccer program, and led them to a 142-64-18 record from 2000-2009. He has an overall record of 157-84-19 coaching collegiate men’s soccer (12 seasons). He has posted an overall record of 202-123-21 in 17 total seasons coaching both men’s and women’s (combined).
During his time with Mid-Continent, Zakowicz was the architect in building the athletic department from the beginning stages. He served as the Director of Athletics for more nearly nine years before moving into a key role as the Associate Vice President for Advancement. In addition to his administrative duties, he also built the MCU Men’s soccer program into a national contender. His teams won 6 regular season conference championships, 4 conference tournament championships, 3 region championships, and one national championship (NCCAA). Zakowicz garnered 4 conference coach of the year awards, 2 NAIA Region Coach of the year awards, 6 NCCAA Region Coach of the Year awards, and 1 NCCAA National Coach of the Year award while serving at Mid-Continent. His players garnered numerous honors for All-Scholar, All-Conference, All Region, and All-American teams. His 2001 Team also garnered the 2001 NAIA Team Academic Award.
Prior to Mid-Continent, Coach Zakowicz was also the architect of the highly successful Bethel University (McKenzie, TN) men’s and women’s soccer programs. Both the men’s and the women’s head coaches played under Zakowicz before entering the coaching arena. Coach Zakowicz casually refers to the Bethel head coach, Melvin Belong, as “the student that has mastered the teacher”. Bethel University won the NAIA National Championship in 2008. “One of my treasures throughout my coaching career, is all those former players that have gone into the coaching field as well. We hope to continue that type of legacy. A coach has the opportunity to impact so many lives, and I am certain we will see our AMU grads go on to achieve great successes in their futures” said Zakowicz. There are currently more than twelve former players and/or assistant coach’s, that served under his tutelage, in the collegiate coaching ranks.
Zakowicz began his collegiate coaching career under Steve Clark, at NCAA III Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. He spent three years under Clark’s tutelage, before heading to his first head coaching position. Zakowicz’s first two seasons as a head coach began at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. They were rebuilding campaigns in which the OWU women’s team enjoyed their first winning seasons in their history, and set more than 20 new records under his leadership.
Zakowicz has also served as a KIAC Conference Chair, TSAC Conference Chair, NCCAA Region Chair, NCCAA National Vice Chair, NAIA Region rater, and as NAIA National rater. Prior to coaching, he also enjoyed success as a player at Bartlesville Wesleyan College, now called Oklahoma Wesleyan University. He has also trained with Hank Duut (Trainer) Fortuna Sittard of the Dutch Premier League, Jan Janssen(Youth trainer) for Fortuna Sittard, Sef Vergoosen (Tech Director) for MVV Maastricht, Guojon Poroarsson (Trainer/Head Coach) for the Akranes Futbol Club in Iceland, and also Logi Olafsson, former coach of the Iceland National Team.
Outside of the soccer arena, Zakowicz has held various positions. He has worked for the Pennzoil Company for more than eight years, and has also owned and operated his own businesses in the private sector. He also started a soccer club in the Western Kentucky area.
He is a native of Rochester, NY, and is married to Darla Zakowicz. They have one daughter, Alisha, and they reside in the Ave Maria community.
