Ricky Zambrano Season 2024
(updated 8/31/04)
Ricky Zambrano is entering his third season as an assistant coach at LSU after heading the men’s team at St. Thomas University from 1998-2001. His responsibilities include serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator in addition to being heavily involved in community relations and marketing and promotions. Zambrano’s on-field duties include goalkeeper training and assisting with the handling of the Tigers’ defense.
Under his watchful eye, the Tiger defense ranked first in the Southeastern Conference in 2002, giving up the fewest goals and points, allowing just 16 goals and 44 points.
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.
St. Thomas finished the season ranked among the NAIA’s top 25 teams in three of Zambrano’s four seasons and in 2000 he piloted the Bobcats to a No. 5 ranking in the NAIA national poll. Zambrano garnered numerous coaching honors at St. Thomas and was named the Florida Sun Conference Co-Coach of the Year in 1998.
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. He led the team to its highest national ranking the school had ever achieved during a season, as St. Thomas earned a No. 5 ranking in The NAIA in 2000, and his club finished No. 12 in The NAIA that season, its highest final ranking in school history. Prior to becoming the head men’s soccer coach at St. Thomas, Zambrano served as the team’s assistant coach from 1995 98.
He received an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma in 2003 and received a U.S.S.F. National “B” Coaching license in 2000. He holds national memberships in the U.S.S.F. Coaches Organization, National Soccer Coaches Association, and the Latin American Soccer Coaches Association (LASCA). Zambrano is currently a state staff coach for the Louisiana Olympic Developmental Program. He serves as a scout for Region III in the United State Soccer Federation (U.S.S.F.) Minority Program and was a state staff coach for the Florida Olympic Developmental Program.
A 1996 graduate of St. Thomas University, Zambrano 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.
He earned his bachelor of arts degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University in 1996 and then received his master’s of science degree in management in the spring of 2000.