Nenad “Ziggy” Zigante, a former assistant coach for the San Jose Clash of the MLS, enters his sixth season as an assistant on the Big Red coaching staff. An accomplished goalkeeper and private trainer on both the professional and collegiate levels worldwide, Zigante has been a national director of the Soccer Plus Goalkeeping Schools since 1995.
Zigante’s impact on Cornell’s goaltending corps was impressive in 2003, as he was instrumental in helping David Mahoney ‘04 become an All-Ivy goaltender in his first season in a Big Red uniform and the team’s save percentage was the second highest in the league behind Ivy champion Brown. In 2006, he guided Luca Cerretani to rankings in the top 50 in the nation in both save percentage (44th, .810) and goals-against average (42nd, 0.861).
He served as an assistant for the San Diego Sockers of the CISL from 1995-98 before catching on with the Clash. During that time, he also lent his netminding expertise to the staffs at the University of San Diego, Cal-San Bernardino and Mesa College. In 1994, Zigante was a guest clinician for the U.S. men’s national and Olympic teams and was a coach in the Japan Women’s Soccer League the previous year.
Beginning in 1992, Zigante spent time as a goalkeeper coach for various club programs throughout California, helping the Cal-South under-16 girls’ team earn a national championship along the way.
Zigante earned dual degrees in physical education and economics from the University of Zagreb in his native Croatia in 1986. He earned his UEFA referee certificate shortly after graduation and has held a U.S. Soccer Federation referee certification and ‘C’ coaching license since 1993.
A former all-star goaltender for the Wichita Wings of the Major Indoor Soccer League, Zigante left professional play in 1990. Since concentrating on coaching, he has consistently placed players with college and professional programs both in the U.S. and overseas.
Zigante and his wife, Gretchen, reside in Ithaca with their children, Susana and Mario.
