Josh Zipin
Photo by: SoConPhotos.com
Wildcats Forever: Josh Zipin
8/5/2011 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Previous Features
With 10 seasons in the history books for Davidson men's soccer head coach Matt Spear, DavidsonWildcats.com got in touch with a senior from each of his 10 teams to discuss their memories of Davidson and see where they are now.
Starting with 2001 and concluding with 2010, DavidsonWildcats.com will post a Q & A with an alumnus every Friday. This week's feature is Josh Zipin.
Josh Zipin (2007-2010) started 57 of 65 games played, primarily in the midfield. He scored a career-best three goals and two assists in 2009, including a game-winner over Furman. Prior to his junior season, Zipin played for Team USA in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, and he studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain for the spring semester of his junior year. Zipin also excelled in the classroom, earning nods to the SoCon All-Academic team and the SoCon Academic Honor Roll
Q: Why and how did you choose Davidson?
A: I chose Davidson because I wanted to challenge myself at the Division I level against some of the best teams in the country while getting a first-class college education. Davidson was far and away the best blend of these two out of any school I was considering.
Q: Do you remember the first time you met Coach Spear during the recruiting process? What was your first impression?
A: I'm not sure if this was the very first time we met, but the first time I met Coach during my official visit to Davidson was in the Union Café. I was with my Dad and we were pretty excited about Davidson because one of my former club soccer teammates (A.J. Grant) was already playing here. We sat down to our meal to chat and I distinctly remember Coach making some smart comment about how I, the future college soccer player, had decided to order one of the most unhealthy items on the menu, the fried chicken sandwich. Little did I know that this was foreshadowing to the change in diet and professional lifestyle that Coach would expect of us over my four years at Davidson.
Q: What were some of your favorite memories from your Davidson Soccer days?
A: My favorite team memory has to be from my junior year when we beat then #6 Duke at home. We crushed them. I remember Brian McGue scoring the first goal on a header and turning around as if nothing happened at all. His reaction (or lack thereof) made me pause for a second to realize what had just happened. We went on to beat them 4-1 in front of a raucous home crowd. I'll never forget slapping five with all the fans at the end of the game.
My best personal moment came in my junior year as well. Also at home, we were locked in a tight 1-1 matchup with Furman, one of the top teams in the conference that year, with about six minutes left. I received a ball on the left side of the box with one defender directly in front of me. I did a quick move to shake him and took a touch to my left and buried a shot to the far corner for the game winner. I ran over to the stands and did an impromptu Lambeau Leap. Definitely memorable.
Q: What were your favorite memories off the field?
A: I always loved our pre-pre-seasons when we would get together as a group before the official start of preseason with coaches. We would usually be cramped in an off-campus house, scrounging for food for the week, but it was always a great time. We got to know the freshman through a few games and embarrassing moments, and developed our chemistry as a new group. Of course we also trained together, which after an entire summer of running by yourself, can be surprisingly motivating and exciting. I just loved the camaraderie in the team and knowing that no matter what else happened at school, academically, or socially, that this would always be my group to fall back on.
Q: What was your major and how do you think the academic and athletic experience will help you moving forward?
A: I was a sociology major at Davidson. I took some really great classes and some classes I wasn't so excited about. The combination of Davidson academics with Davidson athletics taught me so many life lessons that I don't think I have the space to describe them all. But in terms of practical skills, Davidson really taught me how to use my time as my most valuable resource. There are only so many hours in a day, and I needed to exert myself fully in the classroom and on the field. Davidson taught me how to balance my priorities and make time for everything.
Q: What are your post-graduation plans?
A: I'll be sticking around Davidson as the Davidson Athletic Foundation Fellow. I'm excited about the position because I'm passionate about Davidson athletics and feel honored to continue to contribute our tradition of academic and athletic excellence here.
Q: What are some tips you would have for current recruits considering Davidson?
A: Come to Davidson! What I always tell recruits is that you can get everything you want out of being a student athlete here. You can play a competitive schedule against the best teams in the country and graduate with a great degree. But if you come here, come humble and prepared to work because those are the elements for success at Davidson on the field and off it.
As a side note, I used to call myself the closer because any recruits who stayed with me on their visits usually came to Davidson. I have a great track record.
Q: What advice would you pass along to current Davidson players?
A: Enjoy your time because it will come to an abrupt end. Playing soccer every day at a high level is a privilege that you are lucky to have. Relish it, make the most of it, and keep the program moving in the right direction with hard work and commitment.
Q: What do you think you will miss the most from playing soccer at Davidson?
A: There is lots that I'll miss. I'll miss the bond of being on a team. I'll miss constantly working to get better. I'll miss sweating with my teammates. I'll miss 7 a.m. lifts. Oh wait, no I won't. What I will miss most though are the games. There was nothing better than a Friday or Saturday night game under the lights with your whole school out there supporting you. Especially when it was against a big team or a conference rival.
Q: How often do you think you will be able to return to Davidson to catch a game?
A: I'd like to make it a goal to return to Davidson to catch at least one game every season. No matter where I am or end up, watching and supporting Davidson soccer will be something I care about for the rest of my life.
Q: Any favorite “Coach Spear-isms” you want to share?
A: If these are mannerisms, then I got a couple and if these are stories I got a couple. At the end of practices or particular playing drills, Coach would always throw his hands up in the air above his head and spread them out wide while he said, with a drawn out inflection, "gameeee". This became like a final whistle for us and something we recognized as a Coach Spear trademark.
If you know Coach or have trained under him, you know that he doesn't like cursing. He doesn't like to do it himself, and he certainly doesn't like his players doing it. One day we were warming up for a game on our practice fields during what must have been our opening tournament. I don't remember if we looked lackadaisical in the warm-up or if Coach was just amped up for the game, but he brought us all in before we went down to the field and rattled off a few phrases that were not at all G-rated. Needless to say, we were shocked to hear those words come out of his mouth. I know he wanted us to be fired up, but we jogged down to the field mostly surprised and awed at Coach. We won the game, but the next day he apologized to us.
- Jon Tetirick '02
- Soren Johnson '03
- Justin Porter '04
- Joey Bass '05
- John Latting '06
- David Sartorio '07
- Aaron West '08
- Cameron Griffin '09
- Machel Turner '10
With 10 seasons in the history books for Davidson men's soccer head coach Matt Spear, DavidsonWildcats.com got in touch with a senior from each of his 10 teams to discuss their memories of Davidson and see where they are now.
Starting with 2001 and concluding with 2010, DavidsonWildcats.com will post a Q & A with an alumnus every Friday. This week's feature is Josh Zipin.
Josh Zipin (2007-2010) started 57 of 65 games played, primarily in the midfield. He scored a career-best three goals and two assists in 2009, including a game-winner over Furman. Prior to his junior season, Zipin played for Team USA in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, and he studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain for the spring semester of his junior year. Zipin also excelled in the classroom, earning nods to the SoCon All-Academic team and the SoCon Academic Honor Roll
Q: Why and how did you choose Davidson?
A: I chose Davidson because I wanted to challenge myself at the Division I level against some of the best teams in the country while getting a first-class college education. Davidson was far and away the best blend of these two out of any school I was considering.
Q: Do you remember the first time you met Coach Spear during the recruiting process? What was your first impression?
A: I'm not sure if this was the very first time we met, but the first time I met Coach during my official visit to Davidson was in the Union Café. I was with my Dad and we were pretty excited about Davidson because one of my former club soccer teammates (A.J. Grant) was already playing here. We sat down to our meal to chat and I distinctly remember Coach making some smart comment about how I, the future college soccer player, had decided to order one of the most unhealthy items on the menu, the fried chicken sandwich. Little did I know that this was foreshadowing to the change in diet and professional lifestyle that Coach would expect of us over my four years at Davidson.
Q: What were some of your favorite memories from your Davidson Soccer days?
My best personal moment came in my junior year as well. Also at home, we were locked in a tight 1-1 matchup with Furman, one of the top teams in the conference that year, with about six minutes left. I received a ball on the left side of the box with one defender directly in front of me. I did a quick move to shake him and took a touch to my left and buried a shot to the far corner for the game winner. I ran over to the stands and did an impromptu Lambeau Leap. Definitely memorable.
Q: What were your favorite memories off the field?
A: I always loved our pre-pre-seasons when we would get together as a group before the official start of preseason with coaches. We would usually be cramped in an off-campus house, scrounging for food for the week, but it was always a great time. We got to know the freshman through a few games and embarrassing moments, and developed our chemistry as a new group. Of course we also trained together, which after an entire summer of running by yourself, can be surprisingly motivating and exciting. I just loved the camaraderie in the team and knowing that no matter what else happened at school, academically, or socially, that this would always be my group to fall back on.
Q: What was your major and how do you think the academic and athletic experience will help you moving forward?
A: I was a sociology major at Davidson. I took some really great classes and some classes I wasn't so excited about. The combination of Davidson academics with Davidson athletics taught me so many life lessons that I don't think I have the space to describe them all. But in terms of practical skills, Davidson really taught me how to use my time as my most valuable resource. There are only so many hours in a day, and I needed to exert myself fully in the classroom and on the field. Davidson taught me how to balance my priorities and make time for everything.
Q: What are your post-graduation plans?
A: I'll be sticking around Davidson as the Davidson Athletic Foundation Fellow. I'm excited about the position because I'm passionate about Davidson athletics and feel honored to continue to contribute our tradition of academic and athletic excellence here.
Q: What are some tips you would have for current recruits considering Davidson?
A: Come to Davidson! What I always tell recruits is that you can get everything you want out of being a student athlete here. You can play a competitive schedule against the best teams in the country and graduate with a great degree. But if you come here, come humble and prepared to work because those are the elements for success at Davidson on the field and off it.
As a side note, I used to call myself the closer because any recruits who stayed with me on their visits usually came to Davidson. I have a great track record.
Q: What advice would you pass along to current Davidson players?
A: Enjoy your time because it will come to an abrupt end. Playing soccer every day at a high level is a privilege that you are lucky to have. Relish it, make the most of it, and keep the program moving in the right direction with hard work and commitment.
Q: What do you think you will miss the most from playing soccer at Davidson?
A: There is lots that I'll miss. I'll miss the bond of being on a team. I'll miss constantly working to get better. I'll miss sweating with my teammates. I'll miss 7 a.m. lifts. Oh wait, no I won't. What I will miss most though are the games. There was nothing better than a Friday or Saturday night game under the lights with your whole school out there supporting you. Especially when it was against a big team or a conference rival.
Q: How often do you think you will be able to return to Davidson to catch a game?
A: I'd like to make it a goal to return to Davidson to catch at least one game every season. No matter where I am or end up, watching and supporting Davidson soccer will be something I care about for the rest of my life.
Q: Any favorite “Coach Spear-isms” you want to share?
A: If these are mannerisms, then I got a couple and if these are stories I got a couple. At the end of practices or particular playing drills, Coach would always throw his hands up in the air above his head and spread them out wide while he said, with a drawn out inflection, "gameeee". This became like a final whistle for us and something we recognized as a Coach Spear trademark.
If you know Coach or have trained under him, you know that he doesn't like cursing. He doesn't like to do it himself, and he certainly doesn't like his players doing it. One day we were warming up for a game on our practice fields during what must have been our opening tournament. I don't remember if we looked lackadaisical in the warm-up or if Coach was just amped up for the game, but he brought us all in before we went down to the field and rattled off a few phrases that were not at all G-rated. Needless to say, we were shocked to hear those words come out of his mouth. I know he wanted us to be fired up, but we jogged down to the field mostly surprised and awed at Coach. We won the game, but the next day he apologized to us.
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