Roughly three and a half hours after James Armstrong was officially introduced as the new head coach at Auburn, Mississippi State announced they would be promoting from within to replace him, elevating associate head coach Nick Zimmerman to lead the Bulldogs’ program on Tuesday evening.

Zimmerman was on Armstrong’s staff for each of his six seasons at MSU and was named the top assistant in January 2022. He helped lead the Bulldogs to their most successful stretch in program history, culminating in their first-ever Southeastern Conference championship this fall.

He has worked mostly with the forwards and midfielders, helping MSU score 45 goals this past season — a year after the Bulldogs scored just 26.

Zimmerman grew up in Tampa, Florida, and was a college standout at James Madison University, earning two all-Colonial Athletic Association selections with the Dukes. He was selected by the New York Red Bulls in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft and by the Philadelphia Union in that year’s MLS Expansion Draft.

He played for the Carolina Railhawks in the North American Soccer League, finishing second in the league in goals in 2012. Zimmerman wrapped up his professional career in 2015 with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the United Soccer League.

After that, Zimmerman went into coaching, spending four years as an assistant coach at Division II Columbus State before joining Armstrong’s staff prior to the 2019 season.

“In Nick Zimmerman’s time at Mississippi State, we have seen firsthand that he is a relentless recruiter, a great developer of talent and a fearless competitor who instills confidence in the young women he leads,” MSU athletic director Zac Selmon said in a release. “Nick has a clear plan for what Mississippi State soccer can accomplish. We know our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans are excited to see him officially at the helm.”