A new voice will lead the Brock Badgers women's soccer team from the sidelines this season.

Zack Wilson was announced as the Badgers new head coach on Monday, May 12. 

"Zack has a comprehensive understanding of university sport and administration and his passion for building relationships and motivating his players will have an immediate impact on our women's soccer program," said Courtney Smith, Associate Director, Brock Sports. "He is not only committed to the on-field success of our Badgers but also meeting the educational standards we value at Brock University with his student-athlete first philosophy." 

Wilson's coaching resume includes time in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference as an assistant with the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, along with head coaching roles for both the men's (interim) and women's teams at Simcoe County Rovers FC in League1 Ontario. 

"I'm incredibly excited and honoured to be the new head coach of the Brock Badgers women's soccer team," he said. "I truly believe in this group and the potential we have together." 

Beyond tactics and training, Wilson is focused on building meaningful relationships with his players, the university and the broader Niagara community. 

"There is no stone that will not go unturned," he said. "If the community feels invested, they'll come out to our games, support our players and maybe even become future Badgers themselves." 

With the Ridgebacks, Wilson was integral in building strong networks with Durham region community clubs, running training sessions and creating an invite-only prospect game that showcased the best the area had to offer. 

His coaching philosophy, shaped by years of experience at multiple levels, centres on two core principles: culture and clarity. 

"To have any success in what we do, culture is the starting point," Wilson said. "It doesn't mean everything is going to be the most fun thing in the world, but the team knows we have a safe environment where everyone can learn." 

Clarity for Wilson means transparency on expectations, decisions and goals. 

"Players need to know why we are doing things," he added. "We want to take away the ifs and doubts from our players' minds and make decision making on the pitch easier for them." 

Wilson aims to build not only strong athletes on the pitch but stellar students in the classroom. 

His goal is to have one of the highest grade point averages among Brock varsity teams, providing them with support to ensure school gets prioritized. 

"Our focus will be on developing not only skilled and competitive athletes but also well-rounded individuals," Wilson said. "Brock University delivers a complete student-athlete experience — combining academic excellence, high-performance athletics and comprehensive support systems, and we want do our part in contributing to that." 

With the fall season on the horizon, Wilson and his staff are already laying the groundwork for a return to the postseason. 

"As a staff, we're committed to bringing confidence and consistency to the program," he said. "We want to be the hardest team to play in the league."