All Star Coach West 2010
Head Coach Rob Zimmerman
DeWitt High School
Rob graduated from Perry High School in 1984. He attended Northwood University on a football scholarship in the fall of 1985, where he played for a season before transferring to Central Michigan University. There he was a walk-on player for coach Herb Deromedi. He graduated from CMU in 1990 with a Bachelors of Science in Business. He then enrolled at Olivet College to obtain his teaching certificate, which he received in 1992. He later earned his Masters of Education degree from Grand Valley State University. His playing career also included 9 seasons of semi-pro football and one season of European Professional football in Coventry, England.
Rob’s coaching career began at Shepherd High School, where he worked for coach Gene Hackney and his staff. Rob credits Coach Hackney for being a great mentor, and one of the main reasons he decided to go back to school to become a teacher/coach. Zimmerman was the outside linebacker coach at Olivet College in 1991 and 1992 before accepting a social studies/football coaching position in 1993 at Spring Lake High School. In 1996 he was hired as the head coach at Cedar Springs High School, where he also taught business and physical education. In 1999 he returned to the Lansing area as a social studies teacher and the head football coach at DeWitt High School. In his 11 years as the head coach of DeWitt, the Panthers have made the play-offs nine times, won seven league championships, 6 district championships, 6 regional championships, and made 6 state semi-final appearances and three state final appearances. He has received Regional Coach of the Year honors 7 times and has a record of 106-26 in his tenure at DeWitt. Rob is very thankful to work with such an outstanding coaching staff, and to have had the opportunity to coach so many tremendous young men that have worked so hard to continue to build the tradition of DeWitt football.
Rob and his wife Christina reside in DeWitt and have been married for four years. They have four children Laine (1) Marin (3) Jacob (11) and Kaela (14).
Rob said “I am honored to have the opportunity to coach in such a prestigious game. I very much look forward to working with many of the top players and coaches in the state of Michigan.”