Benjamin Ziemer

Benjamin Ziemer is an American soccer manager and former player who is currently the head coach of the Ethiopia under-17 national team.

He is also the president of the NorCal Premier Soccer League, which is part of US Club Soccer.

Early life and playing career Born in Sebastopol, California, Zeimer went to Analy High School. He, alongside his brothers, were part of the Seawolves team that reached the final of the 1991 NCAA Division II men's soccer tournament, where they lost to Florida Tech Panthers. In 2007, he was also appointed the manager of Sonoma County Sol, where he helped them win the National Premier Soccer League play-offs in the 2009 season. In 2022, he rejoined the Sonoma State Seawolves as an assistant manager. He helped them qualify for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, their first since 2003, where they finished third in their group due to goals scored and lost a 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup play-off match against Mozambique after a penalty shootout.

Personal life He has three brothers, Andrew, Christopher, and Marcus, who were all soccer players. Marcus died on March 18, 2026, at the age of 63, following a major head injury after he crashed while riding an electric scooter.

Ziemer cited Hugo Pérez, Peter Reynaud, and Dutch coach Frans Hoek as some of his coaching role models. In 2015, he was inducted into the Sonoma State University Athletics Hall of Fame.