Dec. 11, 2024, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College is excited to announce the hiring of Mario Zuniga-Gil as the new head coach for the women's soccer team. Zuniga-Gil replaces Jason Hill, who led the program during its first two seasons before stepping down.

Director of Athletics Lauren Ferullo expressed her enthusiasm for Zuniga-Gil's appointment, saying, "I am thrilled to welcome Mario to the GRCC family! His extensive soccer expertise and passion for the game make him an invaluable addition to our team. I am confident he will elevate our women's soccer program to new heights, both regionally and nationally."

Zuniga-Gil brings a wealth of coaching experience at various levels, including roles at NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach for Calvin University's women's soccer team, helping the Knights to a 15-3-2 record, MIAA regular season and tournament titles, and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2024.

Prior to Calvin, Zuniga-Gil was an assistant coach at Grand Valley State University (GVSU), where he contributed to two dominant seasons. During his tenure, GVSU secured GLIAC regular season and tournament titles in 2022, a Midwest Regional Championship in 2023, and deep runs in the NCAA Division II Tournament, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2022 and an Elite 8 finish in 2023.

Zuniga-Gil's experience also includes a successful stint as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan in 2021, during which the Wolverines won the Big Ten Championship and advanced to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Division I Tournament. Additionally, he has held coaching and leadership roles with high schools, club teams, and university programs, developing a strong reputation for talent development and tactical expertise.

Accepting the position at GRCC, Zuniga-Gil said, "I'm ecstatic to join GRCC and accept my first head coaching job at the collegiate level. GRCC is an amazing institution with a history of providing a great education to students of all backgrounds, and I couldn't be more excited to become a part of it. I see a huge potential in our women's soccer program thanks to the incredible location of the school in the city of Grand Rapids, and the vast amount of soccer talent that we have in our community. I can't wait to get started and see how far we can get together!"

Originally from Spain, Zuniga-Gil holds a UEFA 'A' license, the second-highest credential attainable in European soccer coaching, and was selected for the United Soccer Coaches "30 Under 30" program, recognizing rising stars in the profession. He earned a degree in translation and interpretation from the University of Grenada (Spain) and a master's degree in recreation and sports sciences with a concentration in soccer from Ohio University.

In addition to coaching at GRCC, Zuniga-Gil will continue to work full-time for the Michigan Rangers Football Club as the College Recruiting Coordinator and Performance Phase Director. 

With Zuniga-Gil's leadership, GRCC looks forward to building on the foundation established in its first two seasons of women's soccer. His diverse coaching background, international experience, and vision for the program signal an exciting new chapter for GRCC athletics.

For those interested in joining next years team, fill out a questionnaire here. 

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Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.