Ricky Zambrano enters his 14th season as head coach of the Thomas University men’s soccer team in 2018. Zambrano also serves as Thomas' Associate Athletic Director.
During his tenure at Thomas, Zambrano has guided the men’s soccer program to appearances in 10 conference tournaments and three NAIA National Championships (2013, 2014, 2016). The Night Hawks have won two Sun Conference Tournament titles (2013, 2014) and one regular-season league championship (2016). Thomas has since 2013 consistently been ranked in the Top 25 nationally, including a No. 1 ranking for two weeks in 2014.
For his efforts, Zambrano has been named The Sun Conference Coach of the Year twice (2014, 2016).
The Night Hawks have also excelled off the field during Zambrano's tenure, as his program has been a NSCAA/NAIA Scholar Team for nine straight seasons (2010-18). In 2015, his program was named a NAIA-Buffalo Funds Champions of Character Team.
In 2016, Zambrano guided the Night Hawks to a 15-4-2 overall record, Sun Conference championship and berth in the National Championship second round following a 3-2 overtime victory over Georgia Gwinnett at TU Soccer Complex. Thomas tied a school record with 15 wins and won 15 games for the third time in four seasons. Zambrano coached the league's Player of the Year and was named Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons. Nine Thomas players were named to the All-Conference teams, including four to the first team. One player was voted to the NAIA Men's Soccer All-America second team, while another was named an honorable mention All-American. In the NAIA, the Night Hawks ranked 21st in shutouts, 34th in goals, 44th in goals per game and 50th in shots per game.
Zambrano's bunch also continued to excel in the classroom, as five players were named 2016 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
Prior to arriving in Thomasville, Zambrano served as an assistant coach at Louisiana State University. During his time in Baton Rouge, he played a major role in helping turn the Tigers into a nationally competitive program. In 2002, the Tigers were SEC Tournament Semifinalist after defeating top-seed Auburn University; the victory marked the first time in SEC Tournament history that an eight-seed eliminated a one-seed. During the 2002 season, the Tiger defense ranked first in the Southeastern Conference, giving up the fewest goals and points (16 goals and 44 points).
Zambrano’s contributions also stretched off the field. During his three years at LSU, he played a significant role in the recruitment of three nationally ranked recruiting classes. The 2003 recruiting class was the first in the program’s history to be nationally recognized. He also played a major role in helping raise attendance at LSU Soccer Park. In his three years, average home attendance rose 90 percent. His guidance also helped the Tiger soccer team maintain above a 3.0 GPA throughout his tenure.
Before landing at LSU, Zambrano spent six seasons at St. Thomas University, four as the head coach and two as the assistant coach. In his highly successful tenure at St. Thomas, Zambrano accumulated a 47-30-3 overall record and led his team to Florida Sun Conference Championship titles in both 1998 and 2000. He was named Florida Sun Conference Coach of the Year in 1998. St. Thomas finished the season ranked among the NAIA’s top 25 teams in three of Zambrano’s four seasons. In 2000, Zambrano piloted the Bobcats to its highest ever NAIA national ranking as St. Thomas earned a No. 5 ranking in season and finished the season at No. 12, the highest final ranking in school history.
Zambrano holds several school records at St. Thomas, including highest all-time winning percentage (.606), wins in a season (16), set in 2000, most conference wins in a season (11), set in both 1998 and 2000, and most consecutive wins in a season (8), set in 2000. His team also set a school record by posting seven shutouts in 1998 and 2000.
Coach Zambrano’s Sun Conference championships and Coach of the Year recognitions at Thomas and St. Thomas tab him as the sole individual in men’s soccer to hold both distinctions at two separate member institutions
He received his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma in 2003 and received a U.S.S.F National “B” Coaching license in 2000. Zambrano holds national memberships in the U.S.S.F Coaches Organization and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Zambrano has served as a state staff coach for the Florida, Georgia and Louisiana Olympic Development Program.
Born in Queens, N.Y., Zambrano graduated from St. Thomas University in 1996, where he played midfield for the Bobcats from 1992-95. He was a member of the 1993 Florida Sun Conference championship team and also participated in the conference semi-finals in 1994 and 1995.
Zambrano earned his Bachelor of Arts in sports administration from St. Thomas University in 1996 and then received his Master of Science in management in the spring of 2000. Currently, Zambrano resides in Thomasville, Ga., with his wife Brandee, who is also the Head Athletic Trainer and their two children, Amaya Lee and Nicholas Andres.
| Year(s) |
School |
Overall Record |
Sun Conference Record |
| 1998-2001 (M) |
St. Thomas |
47-30-3 |
34-15-1 |
| 2005-2010 (W) |
Thomas |
28-69-6 |
- |
| 2005-Present (M) |
Thomas |
131-87-20 |
39-13-5 |
| Total |
|
206-186-29 |
73-28-6 |
