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Assistant Coaches


Brian Zimmerman - Offensive Line Coach

Brian Zimmermann brings 29 years of football experience to Alma College, having  coached at the High School and collegiate levels. In 2009, Coach Z is in his 5th tour and 19th season on the Scots sidelines. His Scots resume includes coaching the running backs, defensive line, receivers, and offensive line. He was the offensive coordinator during the first season of the Scot-gun offense. He was also the Scots' Men's Tennis coach for three seasons.

Coach Zimmermann is a school social worker for Midland Public Schools. He resides in Midland with his wife Kathy and daughters Elizabeth, Hannah and Molly.

Tim Johns '89  - Defensive Line Coach

Tim Johns is coaching at his alma mater as an assistant football coach and will be working with the defensive line this year. Tim graduated from Alma in1989 with a degree in Exercise and Health Science. After captaining the 1988 championship team, Tim began his collegiate coaching career at Southern Connecticut State University where he also earned his Master's Degree in Human Performance. Tim was an assistant coach at Michigan State University during the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

The two years before rejoining the Scots, Tim served as an assistant coach at Carson City Crystal. He is currently employed with the Michigan Department of Corrections. 

He and his wife Karla have four children; Brendan (age 11),  Jacob (age 10), Seth (age 8), and Kayla (age 6).

Tyler Wellman '08, Offensive Line Coach

Tyler Wellman returns to the sidelines for his second season as an offensive line coach. Wellman was a four-year starter for the Scots at center, guard and tackle, making 41 consecutive starts and was a captain on the 2007 squad. Tyler is pursuing a master’s degree in sports administration at Central Michigan University and is engaged to Alma’s assistant women’s basketball coach Ashley Matuzak ’08.

James Lang '09, Defensive Backs Coach

James Lang is in his first season as a defensive backs coach for Alma after graduating from the school this past spring with a degree in business administration. Lang played four years of football for the Scots as a defensive back and is currently a graduate student at Central Michigan University, pursuing a master’s in sports administration. 

Trent Boyd, Running Backs Coach

Trent Boyd is in his first season with the Scots and will coach the running backs. Most recently, Trent volunteered at Central Michigan University, working with the quarterbacks. He was assistant coach at Nouvel Catholic Central High School when the team won back to back state championships in 2006 and 2007. Boyd was born and raised in Saginaw, MI and is a 2004 graduate at Nouvel Catholic Central. He attended Saginaw Valley State University with a bachelors degree in criminal justice.

Jamie Werbish '89, Special Teams Coach

Jamie Werbish is in his first season as special teams coach for the Scots and is working specifically with the Alma placekickers and punters. Werbish is a 1987 graduate of Alma College with a degree in business administration. Jamie was a four-year letterwinner as a kicker and a punter for the Scots and holds the school record (with two other players) with eight extra points in one game, which he accomplished in the 1984 season against Olivet Nazarene. Werbish was also a two-time letterwinner on the Scots’ tennis team in 1986 and 1987 and was a member of Alma’s baseball team in 1984 and 1985.

Chris Parker, Defensive Backs Coach

Chris Parker is in his first season as a defensive back coach for the Scots in 2009 after graduating this past spring with a degree in sociology at Georgetown University. A native of Stone Mountain, GA, Parker played four seasons for the Hoyas as a defensive back. His stint with the Alma program will be focused on working with Coach Lang and the secondary.

 

In the more than 100 years since its founding, Alma has stayed true to its roots by keeping its Scottish heritage alive. Today, Alma features a marching band clad in Kilts, a Scottish dance troupe, student pipers and its own tartan. Each year, the College hosts the Alma Highland Festival and Games, which feature traditional Scottish games and revelry.

 

Coach Profile

Jim Cole

Jim Cole
Graduation: 1974

Jim Cole ‘74 enters his 18th season at the helm of the Scots. In 2004, Cole led the Scots to the MIAA title and a berth in the NCAA Division III national playoffs, the second time in three years the Maroon and Cream advanced to the NCAA postseason.

A former All-MIAA and All-District quarterback for the Scots, Cole draws on the championship experiences of playing for the 1970, ‘71 and ‘72 MIAA co-champions and coaching the 1988 co-champ’s defense.

Cole sports a career mark of 105-67-0, making him Alma’s winningest football coach.