Henry Zapata - Soccer Coach - Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, MS - February 24, 2025 - Mississippi State Assistant Coach Henry Zapata during practice at the MSU Soccer Field in Starkville, MS. Photo By Mike Mattina

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Henry Zapata

Title:
Assistant Soccer Coach
Email:
hzapata@athletics.msstate.edu
Phone:
662-325-2722

Henry Zapata, a veteran of collegiate soccer coaching with more than a decade of experience at Division I schools across the country, was hired as an assistant coach at Mississippi State on Jan. 29, 2025. Zapata’s primary responsibility on the staff is to tutor the Bulldog defenders while being heavily involved in recruiting activities, particularly among the junior college ranks.

Zapata most recently coached at Texas State where he spent three seasons from 2022-24. In his final season, Texas State reached the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship match, losing by one goal to JMU. That came on the heels of a five-match shutout streak to close the regular season and carry the Bobcats through the tournament. With his assistance, four players earned all-conference recognition, the most for the program since 2018.

The Bobcats won 12 matches in two of his three seasons in San Marcos, which were just two shy of the program’s single-season record. The program was on a constant rise, tying atop the conference’s western division in the standings in Year 1, winning its first conference tournament match since 2018 in Year 2 and finally reaching the conference tournament championship match in Year 3.

Zapata helped coach an offense that set a team record with 37 assists while scoring 32 goals in 2023. In his first year in San Marcos, Texas State netted 28 goals in the campaign, its highest scoring output since 2018.

Zapata served on the Iowa State staff in 2021 where he was also the Cyclones’ recruiting coordinator. Iowa State went undefeated in its final five games of the year, which stood as its longest unbeaten streak since 2010.

Prior to his time in Ames, Zapata served as the associate head coach for four years at Lamar. He helped guide the Cardinals to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the three winningest seasons (2017, 2018, 2019) in program history, including a historic 18-win campaign in 2017.

Following a two-win season in 2016, the Cardinals made a remarkable turnaround in 2017, tying the NCAA record for the largest single-season win improvement. Zapata was tasked with implementing the tactical and technical training for defenders with the Cardinals. Under his leadership, the Cardinals posted a school-record 0.90 goals against average, recorded 10 shutouts and secured their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Two of his defenders and the Cardinals’ goalkeeper earned all-conference honors.

During Lamar's historic 2017 season, the Cardinals finished with an 18-4-1 overall record and a 10-1-0 mark in the Southland Conference, setting new school records for both total wins and conference victories. In 2019, the Cardinals won their second Southland Conference regular-season title and claimed another SLC Tournament championship. Lamar finished the regular season with a 16-7 record and a 10-1 mark in the Southland Conference.

Zapata served as an assistant coach at Elon University in 2015, where he led goalkeeper training. Under his guidance, the team achieved a 421-minute scoreless streak and recorded four straight shutouts for the first time in the program's Division I history. Along the way, the Phoenix totaled eight shutouts for the season.

Zapata spent two years (2013-14) on the women's soccer staff at Georgia as a volunteer assistant coach. While in Athens, Zapata contributed to securing an NCAA Tournament berth in 2014. That season, the Bulldogs climbed as high as No. 14 in the rankings and three players earned All-SEC honors. With Zapata overseeing the goalkeepers in 2013, Georgia recorded eight consecutive shutouts and finished with 11 on the season.

Prior to his tenure in the SEC, Zapata coached at the College of Charleston, where he spent two seasons and saw four players earn all-conference recognition, and Illinois. He also coached club soccer in the states of South Carolina and Illinois while on staff.

His career began as a volunteer assistant at Illinois, his alma mater, and the Little Illini Soccer Club where he was the goalkeeper trainer. Zapata graduated from Illinois in 2008 with a degree in broadcast journalism. He completed his master’s degree in sport management from the same institution in 2011.