Veteran College Coach Zapata Joining State Soccer Staff

STARKVILLE – Nick Zimmerman has completed his first staff in Starkville. Mississippi State's first-year head coach announced the hiring of Henry Zapata, a veteran with more than a decade of college coaching experience, as his third assistant coach on Wednesday.

Zapata most-recently served as the associate head coach at Texas State. He will primarily work with MSU's defenders while being heavily involved in recruiting activities, particularly among the junior college ranks. He joins Jonathan Garbar, the reigning C-USA Coach of the Year, and Kat Stratton, who remained on staff from the prior five seasons.

"We are very excited to welcome Henry and his family to Starkville," Zimmerman said. "His passion for recruiting, his building of relationships with the players and his tireless work rate are exactly the type of qualities we want here at Mississippi State."

In three seasons at Texas State, Zapata saw the Bobcats post a pair of 12-win seasons, just two shy of the program's single-season record. Texas State made steady improvements, tying for the top place in the Sun Belt Conference's western division in 2022, winning its first SBC Tournament match since 2018 in 2023 and reaching the conference tournament championship match this fall.

The Bobcats carried a five-match shutout streak from the end of the regular season through the conference tournament before losing by one goal in the tournament championship. Offensively, Zapata helped the Bobcats record a school-record 37 assists on 32 goals in 2023 and net 28 goals in his first season, their highest scoring output since 2018.

The veteran coach has spent time on the staffs at Iowa State (2021), Lamar (2017-20), Elon (2015), Georgia (2013-14) and College of Charleston (2011-12). He began his career as a volunteer assistant at Illinois, his alma mater.

"I'm very excited to be joining the Mississippi State women's soccer program," Zapata said. "I'm looking forward to working with this team and this staff. The work that they have put in over the last few years is amazing and the results have shown. Being able to work and learn from Nick is something that excites me about coming to Starkville. I want to help this team keep growing and continue to move forward as one of the best programs in the country."

Throughout his career, Zapata has been instrumental in some of the best seasons in his schools' histories. At Lamar, he helped the Cardinals reach a pair of NCAA Tournaments while posting their three winningest seasons in program history. After winning just two games in 2016, Lamar won 18 matches in Zapata's first season, tying the NCAA record for the largest single-season win improvement.

At Elon, he led goalkeeper training, and the team achieved a then-program-record four consecutive shutouts. The Phoenix closed the 2015 season with eight shutouts. In his first stint in the SEC, Zapata helped Georgia to a No. 14 ranking and saw three players earn All-SEC honors. Those Bulldogs recorded eight consecutive shutouts and finished the 2014 season with 11 on the year.

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Veteran College Coach Zapata Joining State Soccer Staff

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