Zach Lemke - Men's Soccer Coach - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Zach Lemke

Title:
Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
Phone:
419-372-7071

Zach Lemke has been an integral part of the BGSU men's soccer program's return to prominence, first on the pitch and now from the bench. Lemke, a key part of the Falcons' lineup during the first four seasons of the Eric Nichols Era, embarks upon his third season on Nichols’ coaching staff in 2015.

The Falcons had an RPI of 184 in the 2008 season, the year before Nichols arrived and Lemke played in his first match as a Falcon. Four years later, BGSU finished with an RPI of 99. And, at the conclusion of the 2014 campaign, The Falcons were ranked 64th in the nation in the end-of-season RPI.

During the last six seasons, Nichols, Lemke and their fellow players and coaches have slowly but surely returned the BGSU men's soccer program to relevance in the MAC and the region.

The Falcons, after losing 10 seniors off of the 2013 team, were picked to finish fifth in the six-team MAC in the 2014 campaign. But, that 2014 team put together one of the most successful seasons in the last few decades. The Falcons went 14-6-1 overall and tied for third in the MAC with a 2-2-1 league ledger.

In 2014, the Falcons finished with a winning record for the first time in 14 years, and the overall win total was the program's highest in 17 seasons. BGSU more than doubled the previous season's win total, and the Falcons advanced to the championship match of the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2003.

In the classroom, the Falcons received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the fifth consecutive season. The award is given to programs that have achieved a minimum team GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

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The BGSU staff has worked tirelessly at making Cochrane Stadium an entertaining place to be for soccer fans, as well as a difficult place to play for the road team. BGSU's attendance numbers have steadily increased during his tenure, and the Falcons have had multiple crowds of over 2,000 fill the stadium over the last three seasons, including throngs of 3,126 vs. Ohio State and 2,273 against Michigan in 2013.

In 2013, Lemke’s first season on the staff, the Falcons posted a 6-7-6 overall record in 2013, going 2-2-2 in MAC play and playing a strong non-league schedule. In the classroom, the Falcons received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the fourth consecutive season. The award is given to programs that have achieved a minimum team GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Lemke scored a total of 15 points for the Falcons during his playing career, and achieved numerous milestones both on and off the pitch. A team tri-captain on the 2012 club, Lemke was named the BGSU Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the Athletics Honors Night ceremony in April of 2013. That award, like the Junior Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year honor he earned the previous April, is given to just one male and one female student-athlete at BGSU each year.

Additionally, Lemke was named to the Academic All-Ohio Team by the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association (OCSA) in both 2011 and 2012, and also was named to the Academic All-MAC Team on two occasions.

A native of Beavercreek, Ohio (Beavercreek H.S.), Lemke played in 37 of BGSU’s 38 matches over his last two years, missing one match due to injury. He had five points on a goal and three assists during his senior year, tying for fourth on the team in scoring. His goal came in the Michigan State match at Cochrane Field, and his assists included helpers on game-winning goals by Anthony Grant against both Cleveland State and Western Michigan. Lemke played 1,754 of the Falcons’ 1,874 minutes during his senior season.

As a junior in 2011, Lemke had seven points on the year. One of three Falcons to start all 18 games, he was second on the team in minutes played, with 1,622. Lemke scored the game-winning goal at Detroit, heading home a corner kick early in the match, and he also found the back of the net in a home win vs. IPFW. Lemke recorded assists vs. CSU, IUPUI and Florida Atlantic.

Lemke scored three points in his sophomore season of 2010. His first collegiate goal proved to be the game-winner, as he headed home a cross less than five minutes into the Falcons’ victory over Buffalo at Cochrane Field. He picked up an assist in another MAC win, against FAU in a 2-1 win that gave the Falcons a berth in the conference tournament.

After sitting out the 2008 season, Lemke played in 15 matches in the ‘09 season, making five starts. Lemke, who earned the team’s Most Improved Player award during his redshirt season, played in a total of 68 matches for the Falcons, starting 56.

Prior to coming to BG, Lemke helped Beavercreek to back-to-back Greater Western Ohio Conference championships as a junior and senior, earning all-conference honors in both seasons. He earned numerous accolades, including the 2007 Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Academic Excellence award and the Miami Valley Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete award. He played club soccer for Ohio Galaxies FC.

Lemke, who majored in sport management at BGSU, had a stellar cumulative grade-point average of 3.707 at the University. He earned his degree in December of 2012.