BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR
Twitter: @MiSoccerNetwork
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Oakland University Athletics has announced Devin Zvosec as the new women's soccer head coach, effective May 16.
Zvosec spent the 2024 spring season as the Assistant Coach at the University of Miami and has over a decade of coaching experience at the collegiate level.
“I am very happy that Devin will be leading the women's soccer program, and I welcome him to the Golden Grizzlies Athletics Family,” said Oakland Director of Athletics Steve Waterfield. “Devin has played integral coaching and recruiting roles at multiple (NCAA) Division I soccer programs that achieved competitive success, contributed to student-athletes’ athletics and personal development, and connected with the local community. I look forward to watching him lead the OU women’s soccer program to future successes.”
Zvosec spent the 2024 spring season at the University of Miami in the ACC as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He was tasked with leading the charge on international and domestic recruiting as well as helping develop the backline and team's defensive tactics. Prior to his time at Miami, he served as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at James Madison University for three seasons (2021-2023), helping the Dukes to a 30-18-14 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance, the program's first in eight years. As an NCAA at-large selection in 2023, JMU finished with a top 50 RPI, using a program-best 10-game unbeaten streak that season. Zvosec's recruiting efforts play a pivotal part in James Madison's success. He helped put together back-to-back nationally ranked recruiting classes at No. 35 and No. 36 per Topdrawer Soccer, the first-two nationally ranked classes in program history.
This past season, JMU held teams to just 0.86 goals per game, with James Madison earning an at-large selection to the NCAA Division I Tournament and second of two Sun Belt Conference Tournament finals appearances. Suwaitbatu Mohammed and Brittany Munson were both tabbed to All-Southeast Regional Teams, with five Dukes earning College Sports Communicators Division I Academic All-District selections. Charged with leading the JMU defense, Zvosec and the Dukes tallied 12 wins in the program's first year in the Sun Belt Conference.
The program notched multiple program records including goals against average (0.56), goals allowed (12), shutouts (13) and consecutive minutes without permitting a goal (475:31). Keeper Alexandra Blom was named Sun Belt Goalkeeper of the Year, with two defenders being tabbed to the All-Sun Belt squad.
Zvosec helped coach and mentor six JMU Dukes soccer players who have gone on to join the professional ranks at the conclusion of their collegiate careers. Zvosec helped achieve unprecedented success at another program, doing so as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of North Florida. In Jacksonville, Zvosec helped the Ospreys to their best four-year span in program history, tallying school records for wins, highest finish in the Atlantic Sun and final NCAA Division I RPI and regional rankings.
In the spring 2021 season, the Ospreys went undefeated in Atlantic Sun regular season play, earning a regular season league title and finished the season with the lowest GAA in program history (0.66) and highest goal per game average in program history (2.08). Zvosec helped coach future member of the Orlando Pride, Thais Reiss, during his time at North Florida. Reiss would be selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Team on five instances, while being named Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year in the spring of 2021. Goalkeeper Mercedes Sapp was also named Atlantic Sun Conference Goalkeeper of the Year that same season.
Prior to UNF, Zvosec also had coaching stops at Ole Miss, Arkansas State, Georgia Southwestern State, and Rogers State. "I am truly honored and thrilled to be named the Head Women's Soccer Coach at Oakland University," said the new Oakland head coach. "I extend my heartfelt thanks to Director of Athletics Steve Waterfield and the entire search committee for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this program and uphold a standard of excellence on the field and in the classroom.
I'm excited about the opportunity to begin working with the team and foster a culture that drives success on the field and in life. I'm eager to empower our student-athletes in pursuing their winning aspirations. My family and I are excited to embark on this journey and join the vibrant Rochester and Oakland University community." Throughout his career, Zvosec has set a high standard for recruiting practices, team culture, and the personal development of student-athletes. He looks to do the same as he takes the reins of the Golden Grizzlies. A collegiate soccer player himself, Zvosec earned his bachelor's from Rogers State in Oklahoma, while also earning a master's at the University of North Florida.
Oakland struggled to score goals in 2023, as the Golden Grizzlies were outscored 29-15 and shut out seven times enroute to a 5-6-7 overall record. Oakland did register five clean sheets and finished 3-2-5 in the Horizon League, where the Grizzlies finished seventh out of 11 schools.
Oakland did not qualify for the conference tournament.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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