Grant Zimmerman, formerly the head coach at Centre College (Ky.), was named the Roanoke College head men’s lacrosse coach on July 9, 2025 after a nationwide search. He is the sixth head men’s lacrosse coach in program history.
Zimmerman became the Centre head men’s lacrosse coach in the summer of 2018. He has posted a career record of 69-31 in seven seasons in Danville.
His 2024 team went 14-4 and won the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) regular season and tournament championships. The Colonels fell just 13-12 to Pfeiffer in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Centre went 9-7 in 2025, dropping five games by three goals or less.
In the 2023 season, Zimmerman guided the Colonels to a 13-4 record and the SAA co-regular season title and tournament crown. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament Centre took down Pfeiffer and advanced to the second round.
In 2021, Zimmerman led the Colonels to a 12-2 record that included SAA regular season and tournament championships, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. Centre defeated then-No. 14 Denison, 12-11 in the opening round of the national tournament, sending the Colonels to the "Sweet 16" for the first time ever. He was named SAA Coach of the Year for the second time in his three seasons in 2021.
Zimmerman made an impact right away for the Colonels during his inaugural season in 2019, guiding the team to a 10-5 overall record and the two seed in the SAA Tournament, earning SAA Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to arriving at Centre, Zimmerman spent three seasons as the assistant coach at Denison. During his three seasons with Denison, Zimmerman helped the Big Red reach three NCAA Tournaments, including a national semifinal appearance in 2017. The Big Red won the NCAC Tournament each of his three seasons and was a mainstay in the top 25.
A defensive coordinator and goalie coach, Zimmerman helped Denison finish with a top-eight goals-against average twice. In 2016, the Big Red had a Division III-best 6.29 adjusted goals-against average.
Zimmerman was a four-year starter between the pipes for the University of North Carolina from 2006-09. As a junior, he was named a USILA All-American and was included on the Tewaarton Trophy watch list (awarded annually to the top player in college lacrosse).
In 2009, Zimmerman was the team captain and a Lowes Senior Class Award finalist. He was named to the ACC Lacrosse All-Academic team for the second time and was the winner of the Davy Award for senior leadership. Prior to graduation, Zimmerman was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the men's lacrosse program.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts at UNC, Zimmerman played internationally as a member of the Netherlands men's national team. He played in two European Lacrosse Championships (2008, 2012) and was the team captain of the Netherlands at the World Lacrosse Championships in 2010.
His early coaching experience includes work at The Gilman School in Baltimore, three seasons at Susquehannock High School in Glen Rock, Pa., and a season at John Carroll, where he was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for the Blue Streaks.
Zimmerman and his wife Mattie have one daughter, Caroline.
