"I am a member of the class of 2021 and was a part of the transition from Sharbaugh to Zimmerman. Upon noticing the negative reviews, I am rather annoyed. I was not a player who got the playing time they wanted and I could not disagree more with the negative reviews below. Zimmerman was always fair and the opinions presented are excuses and those players and parents are soft and don’t understand how the world really works. He is a highly capable coach who recruits talent and is explicit in his reviews of players. He plays the players who will do the best on the field and turned a losing program into a top 16 team in the nation. His resume and expertise are far beyond what any DIII program deserves and any high school athletes being recruited to this program would be lucky to play under such a knowledgeable, personable, and experienced coach. Phil is also an amazing coach and Centre lacrosse is lucky to have him. Centre men’s lacrosse is ann impressive program and they have a bright future ahead of them. Go Colonels!"

"Another vote for Coach Z! From day 1 of meeting him I knew he was someone who cares about players, wants them to succeed on and off the field. He wants to develop and take his team to the next level. For those complaining about playing time thats life . Plenty of opportunities to play and be a guaranteed starter at schools with less competitive programs. Thats not what this program Is about. Its about utilizing the state of the art training facilities and bringing in the best possible talent. Our son couldn’t be in a better place that fits him to a T! He’s getting an amazing education and growing as a player on and off the field. "

"As a parent of a current player I am very pleased with the leadership of Coach Zimmerman and the coaching staff. My son was not promised anything prior to committing other than an opportunity to compete for playing time. College athletics is a privilege not a right and is a year round commitment in which you are constantly challenged by new players every year. Unfortunately, these kids are in for a rude awakening once they enter the real world."

"3 years ago when coaches Z and Phil were recruiting my son they told us 2 absolute truths : 1 . You will be able to compete for playing time . They never promised a starting role or game playing time . For someone to believe that is ludicrous . We have elevated our status , and really good players now choose to come Centre . 2 . We hope to , ideally ,maintain a roster of 35-40 players . The keyword is ideally , but so many more kids are now coming to Centre to try and play lacrosse and also go to school here . Look at the stats ; I believe this year’s freshman class is the largest ever . Should Coach Z cut these players ? I have so much more to say , but I won’t bore you . I’ll leave you with these bullet points : Coach Z has been honest with our family from day 1 ; college coaches must over recruit because you don’t know who will come ; Coach Z doesn’t care if you went to a private or public school ; my son has progressively seen more playing each year ; no player gets individual attention to improve , that is not Coach Z’s job , he has to improve team play , if you want to improve individually go pay for a private lesson . I could go on and on and on . This team is good . I defy you to point out one player who shouldn’t be on the field . In conclusion I won’t move forward and attack anyone anonymously , but I will praise and give positive reviews of the Centre Mens Lacrosse coaching staff . I am glad we are a part of this program . We would do it all over again ."

"I can’t say enough wonderful things about Coach Z. My son only has good things to say about him also… and he isn’t a starter. Coach Z is a calm, concerned, thoughtful coach. He is committed to the idea of the team improving while trying to keep the entire team engaged. He is an excellent example for my son of a competitive athlete that is also kind and accessible. He is available for his players both on and off the field. We have a meal after every game so families can spend time together and support each other and our kids. "

" As parents of Centre lacrosse players my husband and I feel like we “won the lottery” as it relates to the student-athlete experience our sons are having. From day one, the direct, honest, realistic, knowledgeable coaching and feedback our boys have had from the entire coaching staff and athletic staff at Centre College has exceeded any/all expectations. To have individuals that know the sport, that care not just about their jobs and the tangible metrics they are evaluated on, but also about holding up each and every one of their players to the highest standards, highest personal expectations, highest values on and off the field is an absolute privilege for each and every parent that is fortunate enough to have a son part of the men’s Centre Lax program and each and every young man fortunate enough to have earned the privilege of wearing the Centre Men’s lax uniform. It’s that simple. Every one of these boys will have highs and lows, will triumph and struggle. That’s the entire point of being part of something bigger than you and your individual personal identity. These boys are blessed beyond measure to learn, develop, grown and play for the Centre Men’s coaching and athletic staff. The FAMILY culture has always been the foundation of the experience our boys have had and we are forever grateful not just for the school and their support of student athletes but the coaches, the athletic staff, the individuals that raise the money needed for our top notch facilities, the families on this team past and present and each and every young man that walks out of the locker room each and every week. "

"My name is Nic Malubay, class of 2021 and 2021 SAA Champion, and I am extremely proud to have been a part of the Centre Men’s Lacrosse family. A family and tradition built by Coach Zimmerman and protected and upheld by his players, current and former. That is a statement I am not afraid to put my name behind. My freshmen year, Centre lacrosse was fighting to finish the season with a winning record. Receiving a bye in the SAA tournament and winning it was a hope, not an expectation. Now, I see the accolades, championships, and winning standard that the program upholds makes me proud to see the culture created in a short 6 years. My sophomore year in 2019, the program saw a first round bye for the first time in multiple years that was followed by SAA champions, multiple All-Americans, and NCAA tournament wins. I’ll let you as the reader figure out what the 2019 difference was. I’d like to represent the Centre Lacrosse alumni in saying that I could not be more proud to be a part of the history and tradition of the team. Never did I feel any discrimination from my teammates or coaches. Coach Zimmerman and Coach Havira developed me and taught me in my four years as a player and as a man. One of those lessons being this: “Nothing is given, everything is earned”, regardless if you were a previous starter or champion, you have a certain background, family, or school. This program was built off of EARNING success through hard work and relentless energy. The results of the last 6 years can speak for itself. If you have any questions or inquiries about my experiences as a player or alum of this program, I’d be very happy to speak about to anyone regarding why this program is successful and creates Leaders of Men. "

"Completely turned the ship around. Knows what it takes to win and makes sure his players are doing what they need to do to be successful. There’s a reason Centre is now the best program in the SAA."

"Coach Zimmerman is hands down the best head coach I have ever played under. His sense of professionalism, knowledge of the game, and honest approach to coaching are among the best across all Divisions of the NCAA. Within his first 3 years of coaching at Centre, he had already won the SAA conference championship and took the team to its first Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. His ability to completely transform a struggling local program into a nationally recognized powerhouse in less than 3 years is bar none across all of Division III. It’s also evidence of his efficient and disciplined coaching style. If you are looking to play for a coach who genuinely wants you to improve and has the knowledge and resources to get you there, then Centre is an excellent option. That being said, be prepared to hear your fair share of constructive criticism. Coach Zimmerman is honest and direct about everything he thinks you can do to improve your game. He knows better than anyone what it’s going to take to win another conference championship. If you want a coach that will hand out participation trophies rather than a championship ring at the end of a long season, then Centre might not be the place for you. However, his knowledge and understanding extends beyond the field too. He’s also extremely committed to making sure every player on his team is staying on top of their academic requirements. As you approach your final years within the program, he always makes sure to take an active interest in how you’re getting your professional career up and running. Whether it’s through setting up internships, a letter of recommendation, or putting you in contact with one of his many national (and international) connections, Coach Zimmerman makes sure you are more than ready to hit the ground running in the real world. Parents sending their sons to play for Coach Zimmerman will not regret the disciplined, well-rounded, and honest men they become from playing under his tremendous leadership. "

"Having 3 sons play lax for the last 15 years , parents grumbling is as much a part of the game as bad weather. Equally as predictable is parents looking at the team thru the short sighted view of only their son . But lax is a means not an end, and allowing them to experience struggles forms men of character. I know as a Dad my influence on my sons is limited, and I have watched coach Z help form my sons into men of character, better lax players, and champions. He dedicates himself and his family to this process, and I can ask little more from a man I ask any parents with different views to talk to me."

"Coach Z, both on and off the lacrosse field, has helped me in ways that are unexplainable. As a former player I can truthfully say I wouldn't be as successful as I am or who I am today without him. He created a culture around his team that promotes competitiveness, hard work, dedication and most importantly, family. All of these qualities make up a great student athlete as well as a candidate for any job or graduate school. Centre lacrosse's impact goes far beyond winning games, it molds young men into driven individuals who want to be successful and now have the tools to do it. Coach Z's knowledge of the game is top tier for any coach but especially coaches at the division 3 level. He sees the field and the schematics unlike anyone I have ever learned from. He took a team from middle of the pack in the SAA to the clear front runner in the matter of 2 years, not to mention this was through a worldwide pandemic. On top of that add 2 SAA championships, 2 trips to the NCAA tournament and a win over a nationally ranked opponent. Coach Z's biggest motivators are winning and creating a team that truly is a family. I believe he achieved that and then some during my time at Centre. He knows how to win, plain and simple. He's going to put the best guys on the field in the right positions to win lacrosse games. To be successful at Centre it's about hard work and being successful in the system. Coach's mentality is a team mentality, if you're giving the effort and playing WITHIN the system to help the team win, you will get your chance. To create this team mentality, the team must truly be a family. I don't know many teams that willingly eat dinner after practice together every night of the season at one table in the middle of the cafeteria. That was the culture Coach Z created. Lastly, just from a personal standpoint, there aren't enough good things I could say about Z. During my time at Centre he kept me on track academically, had me at his house for dinner and helped me through personal issues I had going on outside of lacrosse. Since graduation he has put me in touch with multiple people about career opportunities and just checked in to make sure all is well. Coach Z is one of the greatest men you will come by in the lacrosse community. The integrity and passion of Coach Z should never be questioned in my eyes."

"As an athlete in the recruiting process, it is important to seek out a program who is led by a man of good character. Coach Z is everything you could ask for in a head coach. He communicates what he expects from you as a player while also being REALISTIC about what that may be. His knowledge of the game is unmatched at this level. Being around the game my entire life, Coach Z is far and away the most knowledgeable lacrosse coach I have been around. To be honest, Centre doesn't even deserve him. We are lucky to have played for a coach of his caliber. One thing about playing lacrosse in college is that it is up to you as a player to put the work in necessary to get on the field. Sometimes it just isn't enough if you were not born with the ability and that is okay. He has never failed to mention the importance of the ENTIRE team to the success we acheived. In my 4 years, we won 3 conference titles and had 2 NCAA tournament appearances. That doesn't happen by chance. For those complaining about your kid saying he was lied to or that they wasted their career here, maybe your son was lying to you. You chose to come here and the fact that you didn't play is on you. Maybe he just wasn't good enough. The best players and the ones who gave us the best chance to win touched the field. The result speaks for itself."