Our 2017 Zippy Award Winners

Male Athlete of the Year - Joao Moutinho, Men's Soccer

The Akron Soccer Star Factory hasn't lost a step. First Team All-American, First Team All-MAC, MAC Freshman of the Year, Hermann Trophy semifinalist, #1 in the TopDrawerSoccer Freshmen 100 and TopDrawerSoccer Freshman of the Year are all great ways to describe Akron's Defensive stalwart Joao Moutinho. Joao ran a sensational freshman campaign and quickly established himself as a dominant presence in Akron's midfield before being pulled into the back-line to solidify a defensive unit that would hold opponents to 12 shutouts and post a perfect 12-0 at home. Moutinho has established himself as a star for Akron and Zips fans will hope Joao elects to stay in school a few years before, inevitably, going pro.

Female Athlete of the Year - Danielle Nicholson, Women's Golf

Coming off a freshman campaign where she won the Mid-American Conference individual title, Nicholson followed it up with a big sophomore season, posting first-team all-conference honors.  She finished seventh at MAC Championships.  Nicholson was also selected as the winner of the 2016-2017 Caroline J. Pardee Female Athlete of the Year Award.  Most importantly, Nicholson was selected for the 2017 Women’s Golf Academic All-MAC team.

Team of the Year - Men's soccer

Its hard to argue against a top 4 finish, so lets not. Akron Soccer has continued its tradition of excellence this year. It took a Stanford Cardinal powerhouse on their way to a third straight College Cup title to knock the Zips off their warpath this year and the argument could be made that Akron may have defeated either team on the opposite side of the bracket and made the title game. The Zips finished with a record of 18-4-2, they were a perfect 12-0 at home and they move into the 2018 campaign as the #6 team in the country. 5 Zips (the most of any program) were invited to the MLS combine with the expectation being that most of them will at least make MLSII sides this summer. Manuel Cordeiro is a probable first round pick and our friend Joao Moutinho is the first Zip to make Hermann Trophy Semifinalist since Aodhan Quinn in 2013. The big question is, how will Akron bounce back next fall with a large crop of seniors leaving for the next level? Only time will tell.

Coach of the Year - Jared Embick, Men's soccer

The man at the helm of Zips soccer is owed a lot of credit for his handling of this Zips team after Caleb Porter left for MLS in 2012. Porter was widely respected as a brilliant coach and one of the best in college and went on to have success at the helm of the Portland Timbers. Since his departure, Embick hasn't had to right the ship because its kept right on sailing. Embick boasts a 79-23-11 record as head coach of the Zips. He's also taken his team to the NCAA tournament in all 5 years he's been at the helm including 2 Semifinal finishes and 2 trips to the second round. In addition to being an excellent tactical coach, Embick is a gifted recruiter who's traveled the world over to bring the best possible talent to Akron Soccer. Embick is much of the reason the Zips have 15 players from outside of the United States. 2018 is a contract year for Embick and we could see more of Jared's leadership as the Zips get ever closer to their 2nd Star.

Best Moment - Akron 24, Kent State 14, Football

The last time the Zips football team played for a MAC Championship, most current UA freshmen were in 1st Grade.  The Zips on that team that reached the NFL have all retired.  It goes without saying that twelve years is a long time.

When Akron moved on from JD Brookhart, the coach of the 2005 MAC Champions, they brought on Rob Ianello to take the Zips to the next level.  Zips fans know what followed was the darkest of times for the program, with two straight one-win seasons.  When Terry Bowden was hired, optimism followed.  After a 3rd straight one-win campaign for Akron, the team won a respectable five games.  Two years later, they reached and won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.  Two years later, after defeating Ohio, the Zips had one thing standing in their way of a MAC Championship appearance - rival Kent State.

The Zips, led by their defense, took advantage - including Ulysees Gilbert III's forced fumble, recovery, and return of 40 yards for a touchdown to end the first half.  The Zips won and headed to Detroit.  Although that game and the Boca Raton Game that followed showed the Zips still have a ways to go, their MAC East Championship shows they might finally be headed in the right direction.


Past Winners:

2016

Male Athlete of the Year - Clayton Murphy
Female Athlete of the Year - Madison Myers
Team of the Year - Men's Soccer
Coach of the Year - Jared Embick
Best Moment - University of Akron hires Matthew Wilson as President