Anderson University

Michael Zion was announced as head coach on April 25, 2014 after being an assistant with the program since 2010. Wrapping up his 12th season at the helm following the 2025 season, Zion has led the Trojans to 103 wins, including 61 in SAC play. Anderson has reached post-season play in all but two of those 11 seasons, including back-to-back SAC Championship showings in 2018 and 2019. Anderson won the Regular Season Title in 2025 for the first time since 2011. The Trojans have earned 46 All-Conference selections under Zion's leadership, as well as 13 All-Region honorees. 

In 2025, Anderson had nearly their best season in program history, starting the season with 12-straight unbeaten and going 11-2-6 overall and 7-1-2 in league play to win the regular season title for only the second time. The league record was the best by the Trojans since they went 9-0 in 2011.The top-seeded Trojans received a league-leading nine All-SAC honorees, and senior goalkeeper Franco Antoniolli Funes was named the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year. Nine selections mark the best post-season honors in program history. AU also earned four two-time All-Region selections.

2025 SAC coach of the Year and 2025 United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year, Zion earned his 100th win at the helm during the 2025 season and concluded the season with 103 wins, tying the most by a head coach in program history. The Trojans earned their highest national ranking as a program in 2025, opening the season at No. 4 and staying being 4th and 6th in the nation all season.

The Trojans finished the regular season with a +20 goal differential, ranking first in the SAC and 16th in the NCAA. Finishing 18th in the NCAA in team goals against average, Anderson allowed only 11 goals across 15 matches, the least amount in the league this season and fewest conceded by the Trojans since 2011. Offensively, Anderson scored a league-leading 31 regular season goals, averaging 2.07 goals per game—a stat that ranks 1st in the SAC and 30th in the NCAA. Concluding the regular season, Anderson led the conference in assists per game, goal differential, points per game, save percentage, scoring offense, shot accuracy, SOG per game, team GAA, total assists, total goals, total points and win percentage.

After a penalty shootout loss to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC semifinals, AU earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the 7-seed in Super Region II. The Trojans traveled to Lynn to face SAC opponent 10-seed Lincoln Memorial, AU's only loss of the season. Anderson avenged the regular season loss, defeating LMU in penalties to advance to the Second Round, where they ultimately fell 2-0 to reigning National Champions, Lynn.

The 2024 season opened with the Black and Gold selected to finish 7th in the SAC Preseason Poll and ended with the Trojans finishing 3rd in the league and hosting the opening round of the conference tournament. Anderson had six named to SAC All-Conference Teams following the season, the most since 2011. 

Zion led the Trojans to a 7-4 SAC record, boasting an impressive 4-1 line for road competitions. AU kicked off the season with a 1-1 tie against No. 11 Barry on home turf, before falling to Converse in the squads’ inaugural matchup. Anderson went on to then win three-straight, including back-to-back games of superior offensive showings—6-1 win over Emory & Henry and 5-1 victory over Montevallo. The season was also highlighted by back-to-back road wins over ranked SAC opponents, as the Trojans defeated No. 17 Wingate 2-1 in North Carolina and No. 21 LMU 3-1 in Tennessee. Anderson rounded out the regular season with four-straight SAC wins, including three consecutive shutouts. Earning a three-seed in the SAC Tournament, AU hosted LR for the Quarterfinals, but fell 1-0 in the final second of the game. 

The Trojans went 7-6-3 in the 2023 season, highlighted by a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Barry on the road to open the season. Anderson then went on to start the conference campaign with wins over Carson-Newman and No. 22 Lincoln Memorial—their first win over the Railsplitters since 2019. AU picked up more SAC wins against Emory & Henry, Catawba and Newberry to finish 5-4-3 in league play and earn a 5-seed slot in the SAC Tournament. LMU avenged their loss to the Trojans from earlier in the season to conclude Anderson’s season in the SAC Quarterfinals. Julian Caro Sepulveda, Pol Elias and Franco Antoniolli Funes were named to the SAC All-Conference Teams. 

2022 was a down year for the Black and Gold, who went 5-7-3 overall and 3-5-3 in league play. the Trojans picked up SAC wins over Emory & Henry, Mars Hill and Newberry. Andres Osorio and Joao Martinho were named All-SAC Third-Team.

Zion led the Trojans to a 12-4-2 record in the fall of 2021, which earned the team to being ranked No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll, and a trip to the SAC Tournament Semifinals. Under Zion's watch, Alexandre Cox-Ashwood had a breakout season in which he scored 13 goals while dishing out four assists. He was named United Soccer Coaches (USC) National Player of the Week, SAC Astroturf Offensive Player of the Week, USC All-Southeast Region Team, USC Scholar All-Region Team, D2CCA Southeast All-Region First Team, All-SAC First Team, and AU Male Athlete of the Year. Martin Carpena, Harry Ward, and Agustin Ortiz also earned All-SAC honors. The Trojans won seven consecutive games towards the end of the regular season, before falling to Coker in the SAC Semifinals by a score of 1-0.

In an abbreviated 2021 spring season, Zion guided Anderson to a third place regular season finish in the South Atlantic Conference (4-1) and a trip to the SAC Tournament Semifinals. Overall for the season, the Trojans finished with a 5-2-1 record while being ranked as high as 22nd in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll. Harry Ward, Alexander Cox-Ashwood, and Tevin Lessey were all named to the All-SAC Second Team, while Agustin Ortiz and Andres Osorio were honorable mentions. Goalkeeper Gal Elyashiv was named the SAC Astroturf Defensive Player of the Week on March 24th. For the season, the Trojans had four clean sheets.

Zion led the Trojans to 12 wins and a spot in the SAC Tournament Finals during the 2019-20 season. Three Trojans were named to the All-SAC Tournamnet team (Martin Carpena, Vinny Veiga and Alexander Cox-Ashwood), while three Trojans earned South Atlantic All-Conference honors (Ryan Tyrer, Harry Ward and Alexander Cox-Ashwood) and two were selected to the All-Region Team (Ryan Tyrer and Harry Ward). Junior keeper Gal Elyashiv was awarded as the SAC statistical champion for Save Percentage (.809).

In 2018-19, Zion led the Trojans to the second round of the NCAA National Tournament, finishing with a record of 11-6-3. The Trojans lost a heartbreaking match to the eventual Southeast Regional Champions in double overtime. The Trojans also finished as runners-up in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championships.  Five Trojans earned South Atlantic All-Conference honors (Jhon Vaca, Ryan Tyrer, Lucas Mostajo, Gal Elyashiv, and Lars Kaula) and four were selected to the Southeast Regional Team (Cam Emerson, Ryan Tyrer, Lucas Mostajo, and Lars Kaula). The team were awarded as the SAC statistical champions for goals against average (.750). Hero Sports ranked the Trojans, 22^nd in the country at the end of the season. 

In 2017-18 season, Zion led the Trojans to a 9-8-1 season, advancing to the SAC Conference Semi Finals.  Anderson finished 6^th in the SAC and had three players selected to the SAC All-Conference teams (Josh Calabria, Cam Emerson, and Thomas Joergsholm). The Trojans were recipients of the Fair Play award for the second time under Zion.  In 2016-17 the Trojans finished with a record of 7-6-3. The winning season was impressive considering the Trojans had a strength of schedule ranked 15^th in the country by Hero Sports.  The team had an impressive non-conference record, winning matches against the 3^rd and 4^th place teams from Conference Carolinas, the 3rd^h place team from the Peach Belt, and the 2^nd place team from the Gulf South. In 2015-16 the Trojans finished the season with an 8-8-1 record. The Trojans were eliminate in the quarterfinals of the SAC Championships. Andre Carle, Eric Dahlbeck, and Ryo Ogawa were selected to the SAC All-Conference teams. 

In his first season as the head coach of the Black and Gold, Zion led Anderson to an eight-win season, headlined by a win over nationally-ranked Wingate. The Trojans claimed six South Atlantic Conference victories, including three on the road. Zion coached standout Lars Zimmermann in his final season as a collegiate player, as Zimmermann earned Capital One Academic All-America First Team honors, as well as NSCAA All-Southeast Region Third Team honors. Zion also placed four Trojans on postseason All-SAC Honors, headlined by Magnus Larsen's SAC Freshman of the Year award.

During his tenure as Anderson’s assistant coach, Zion has won 50 matches, while appearing in the NCAA National Tournament on three occasions. Zion has coached a two-time All-American, an all-region Player of the Year and nine all-region players.

In his final season as an assistant coach with the program, Zion led the Trojans to a fourth straight South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship, before falling to Queens, 2-0. Despite the setback in the title match, Anderson earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament, falling in the first round to eventual national runner-up, Carson-Newman. AU wrapped up the 2013 season with a 12-7-3 record and led Lars Zimmerman and Andre Carle to NSCAA all-district honors.

Despite a rough start to the 2012 season, Zion helped lead a late charge, as Anderson captured its third straight SAC Tournament championship, despite entering the conference tournament with a 4-10-3 overall record. The Trojans knocked off Lincoln Memorial, 1-0, to earn their third straight conference tournament championship. Zion coached Shu Ogawa and goalkeeper Lukas Hesse to NSCAA All-Southeast Region honors, while Zimmerman was picked to the Daktronics Second-Team All-Region.

In 2011, Zion assisted an AU team that finished the year 17-4 and closed its SAC schedule with a perfect 9-0 conference record. During the year, Anderson went on an 11-match winning streak, outscoring its opponents 29-5 during the span. In the postseason, Anderson claimed its second straight SAC Tournament championship, defeating Lenoir-Rhyne in overtime, 1-0, to claim the title. Zion coached four Trojans to the Daktronics all-region team, while Lasse Sohrweide earned All-America honors for the second straight season.

In his first season on the Trojan coaching staff, Zion helped lead the Black and Gold to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, after winning their first SAC Tournament championship. The Trojans closed the 2010 season with a 15-6-2 record and a 6-3 mark in their first season as members of the SAC. Anderson also finished 17th in the NSCAA rankings, while Sohrweide was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer All-America First Team.

Zion, a four-year letter winner and two-time team captain from 2003-06, scored nearly two dozen goals, and recorded 21 assists. The native of Spartanburg, S.C., helped transform a Trojan squad that claimed just three wins in his rookie season into a perennial contender for conference titles. Anderson won a combined 27 matches over his final three campaigns.

Zion also played for the Palm Beach Pumas in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), Performance FC in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL) and Performance FC Phoenix (NPSL) of Greenville, S.C.  He also spent a season with the London, England Kickers in the FA Futsal League.

Zion is currently an assistant coach with Greenville FC of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Greenville FC most recently finished 2^nd in the Southeast Region league standings. He has also worked with several of the local youth clubs (CESA/CASA) as both a coach and a director of coaching. He has been involved with the SC Olympic Development program for a number of years as both a head coach and an assistant coach. 

Zion received his bachelor’ degree in kinesiology from Anderson University, SC following his collegiate career. In December of 2018, he completed his Master of Science in Recreation and Sport Science with a focus in Soccer from Ohio University and in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Association. The degree is the only one of its kind offered in the United States. 

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