Mario Zuniga-Gil
Head Women’s Soccer Coach
Mario Zuniga-Gil was named Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Aquinas College, bringing with him a diverse international background, championship-level experience, and a proven track record of player development across multiple collegiate levels.
A native of Spain, Zuniga-Gil earned his Bachelor of Arts in Translation & Interpreting from the University of Granada before completing his Master of Science in Soccer Coaching Education at Ohio University. His academic and professional journey reflects both global perspective and deep tactical understanding of the game.
Prior to joining Aquinas, Zuniga-Gil served in a variety of collegiate and club leadership roles. Most recently, he was the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Grand Rapids Community College while also serving as the Girls College Recruiting Coordinator for Midwest United FC and Director of College Recruiting for Michigan Rangers FC. His collegiate coaching résumé includes assistant coaching positions at Calvin University and Grand Valley State University, where he was part of nationally ranked programs competing deep into the NCAA Tournament.
During his tenure at Grand Valley State, the Lakers captured GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2022 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen. In 2023, the program reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. At Calvin University, he contributed to a 2024 MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Championship season that included an NCAA Division III Tournament run to the Second Round. Earlier in his career, he was part of a staff that reached the NCAA Division I Elite Eight following a Big Ten Tournament Championship season in 2021, while coaching for University of Michigan.
Zuniga-Gil’s coaching journey also includes head coaching roles at Zeeland East High School and Chelsea High School, as well as time at Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard High School. Internationally, he has coached with Burton Albion FC in the United Kingdom and Granada Noroeste CM in Spain. His club leadership experience includes serving as Girls Director and Director of Futsal at Kingdom Soccer Club and Director of Methodology at Chill SBC Soccer Club.
He chose Aquinas because of its rich institutional history, beautiful Grand Rapids campus, close-knit community environment, strong academic reputation, and the proud tradition of success within the Saints soccer program.
Zuniga-Gil resides in Grand Rapids with his wife, Amanda. Outside of coaching, he enjoys traveling — especially returning to Spain — and cooking.
