Now that the World Cup has reached a manageable number of games and teams, I reached out to North Bay soccer coaches (youth, high school, college and professional), youth club directors as well coaches with strong ties to the area. Many grew up in the area, played or coached at SRJC and/or Sonoma State University, coached in clubs in the area or return regularly to visit family.
All of them have extensive experiences in soccer, but for the sake of keeping things simple, I have included their current roles in the game, although many are involved in multiple projects outside of the ones listed below.
I would assume their goals are all fairly simple and similar:
1 – demonstrate their strong knowledge of World Cup soccer
2 – compete against others in the area for bragging rights (score might be kept…and published)
3 – not make a fool of themselves
4 – do what no other coach in America has been able to do in the past three years…beat Jeremy Gunn in the knockout rounds
Introducing the experts…a term which I use loosely, as one of them is seven and I had to tell two of them that Germany wasn’t in the quarterfinals.
The following coaches are currently living outside of the North Bay…
- Jeremy Gunn – Head Mens Soccer Coach, Stanford University – played for North Bay Breakers in USISL
- Mike Friesen – Head Womens Soccer Coach, San Diego State University – played for SSU mens soccer team
- Kai Edwards – Womens Soccer Assistant Coach, Oakland University (Michigan), Technical Director Nationals (Michigan) Development Academy – played for SSU mens soccer team
- Matt Bernard – Development Academy Coach/Director, San Juan Soccer Club (Sacramento), US Club Coordination (Arizona and Nevada) – played for SSU mens soccer team
The following coaches currently reside and/or work in the North Bay:
- Tim Maycock – Boys DOC, North Coast FC
- Emiria Salzmann – Head Womens Soccer Coach, Sonoma State University
- Crystal Chaidez – Head Womens Soccer Coach, Santa Rosa Junior College
- Kelcey Chaidez – Boys Director, Santa Rosa United
- Vinnie Cortezzo – Girls DOC, North Coast FC, Sonoma County Sol Head coach
- Andy Farrant – Director of Operations, Nor Cal Premier
- Marcus Ziemer – Head Mens Soccer Coach, Sonoma State University
- Andrew Ziemer – Director of Soccer Operations, Santa Rosa United
- Ian Mork – Director of Scouting, Nor Cal Premier
- Don Shaffer – longtime local soccer coach, General Manager of Cal Victory (UPSL)
- Margi Osmundson – Assistant Womens Soccer Coach, Sonoma State University
- Marty Kinahan – Mens Soccer Coach, Santa Rosa Junior College
- Antonio Garcia – Boys Soccer Coach, Santa Rosa HS
- Lee Summerscales – Development Academy Director/Coach, Santa Rosa United
- Joe Hunter – Assistant Mens Soccer Coach, Sonoma State University
- Roy Vega – Boys Soccer Coach, Sonoma Academy
- Gabe Rood – West Region Coordinator, US Club Soccer
- Benjamin Ziemer – Assistant coach, Sacramento Republic FC, President, Nor Cal Premier
- Kevin Christensen – Associate AD and basketball coach, Sonoma Academy – don’t let the basketball fool you, he has watched more live soccer games in Europe than most soccer fans
- Chris Daly – DOC (Academy ) North Coast FC
My family – I roped them into giving their picks as they have been enjoying the World Cup with me.
- Sally Ziemer – (daughter) – SSU womens soccer player
- Renee Ziemer – (wife) former SSU womens soccer player, owner/director Kinder Kickz Soccer
- Gabby Ziemer – (daughter) – Sonoma Academy and Santa Rosa United player
- Ely Ziemer – (7 year old son) – has been to more soccer games than 7 year olds should have to attend, but he prefers the LA Dodgers
The picks for the first two quarterfinal games will be announced later tonight.
