A Message from the President
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 1:27pmGood day Seawolves,
I join the Sonoma State community in mourning the passing of Marcus Ziemer, a legend in the North Bay soccer community and a coach for 36 years at SSU – including 35 seasons as head coach of our men’s soccer team, which he led to a NCAA Division II national championship in 2002.
Coach Ziemer sustained life-threatening injuries last weekend in a scooter accident in Germany. He passed away Monday night after being taken off life support.
Coach Ziemer led SSU to eight CCAA conference titles and 15 CCAA tournament appearances. He was named Coach of the Year six times, was a two-time Regional Coach of the Year, and was named National Coach of the Year after leading the Seawolves to their first national men’s soccer championship in 2002. In 1991 – his first season as head coach – he guided Sonoma State to the NCAA Division II national championship game, finishing as runner-up to Florida Tech. A Sonoma State alumnus, he was a two-time all-conference soccer player for the Seawolves (then the Cossacks) in the 1980s.
Coach Ziemer’s influence extended far beyond the borders of this campus. He and his three brothers (Andrew ‘88, Benjamin ‘93, and Christopher ‘99 -- all former players) have run the Ziemer Brothers Soccer Camps for more than 20 years, educating thousands of youth soccer players. Their passion for the sport and its impact on young lives was handed down by their father, Herb Ziemer, who stressed the importance of education, hard work, family, and community.
That philosophy, and the relationships Marcus built over decades, had a profound impact on many, including Nicole Annaloro, former SSU Senior Director of Athletics, who worked with Marcus from 2019 to 2025.
“What I will remember about him the most is how passionate he was as a coach and how his players were his priority, and how he honored them,” she said. “He had one of the strongest alumni groups, year after year. His relationships with his athletes were above anything I had ever seen.”
Beyond SSU, “he was so dialed into the community and wanting to share with others. He was the guy I would call if I needed a restaurant recommendation, or what concerts were playing. He was so personal on that front.
“He knew everyone, and everyone knew him.”
Val Verhunce, former SSU golf coach, remembered Ziemer similarly.
“As a colleague and as a person, it’s rare to encounter someone so willing to stand up for what’s right and go to great lengths to ensure others were heard,” Verhunce said. “Marcus lived his life fully and on his own terms. His dedication to his family, to the sport of soccer, and to his love of music, beer, and fine wine were constants – things he embraced wholeheartedly.
“He will be deeply missed – not only as a colleague and a friend, but as a husband, father, (including Freddie his dog), brother, and, above all, as a man who stood for honor and believed in bringing out the best in everyone.”
Kelley Kaslar, SSU Director of Student Recruitment and Orientation, knew Ziemer for many years and felt his impact early on.
“(He) had a lasting impact on my life long before I ever stepped onto the Sonoma State campus as an employee,” she said. “As a kid playing soccer for Santa Rosa United under him and his brother Andrew, I was introduced to SSU through the incredible soccer camps they hosted – experiences that made the campus feel special and full of possibility, creating moments that stuck with me for years. His energy and spirit were contagious.
“Years later, it was always so special to see Marcus around campus – often alongside Trish and their dog – still pouring that same enthusiasm into SSU, welcoming new students and sharing a place that clearly meant so much to him.”
All of us at Sonoma State University grieve with the Ziemer family today, and with all of the players and coaches who learned and excelled under Marcus’ tutelage, mentorship, and friendship over the past four decades. His legacy at Sonoma State and in the North Bay is assured, and sets a high bar for every leader in athletics, education, and community life.