Assistant Coach
Gabe Zapponi enters his fourth season as an Assistant Coach for Indy Eleven. The previous three years, he also held an important role as Director of Performance. Zapponi continues to work closely with Performance and Medical areas to ensure players are reaching optimal performance on match days.
The versatile Zapponi also serves as Assistant Coach for the Indy Eleven Pro Academy, mainly with U16-U19 after serving as U19 head coach, leading them to an undefeated 2023 USL Academy regular season.
Prior to joining Indy’s technical staff, Zapponi was the Director of Coaches and Strategic Development for Orlando-based USL League Two side Nona FC in 2021.
He began his USL Championship coaching career as Assistant Coach and Director of Sports Performance at El Paso Locomotive FC from 2019-20.
Prior to that, Zapponi was the Head of Sports Performance and Science for Jacksonville Armada FC in the NASL in 2015-18. During that time, he also served as Sports Performance Coach and Director of Operations for Jacksonville University in 2015-17.
He first coaching job was in 2014 when he served as Assistant and Fitness coach for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College for the men’s and women’s teams.
He holds a USSF B coaching license and certifications and licenses from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, FC Barcelona Rehabilitation to Performance certificate, Human Movement Specialist (HMS) certification, a Functional Movement Screen Certification, and a Therapeutic Modalities and Rehabilitation Certification.
Zapponi’s background is steeped in both the sport performance and coaching sides of soccer as he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Development from Jacksonville University. Those comprehensive studies were used by Zapponi during coaching and sport performance-based positions with USL2-side The Villages SC and the Ocala Stampede of the PDL.
The Rio de Janeiro native arrived in the United States to play at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2010 for two seasons, earning NJCAA All-Region first-team honors after helping his team to two straight regional championship appearances and NJCAA conference title in 2011.
The midfielder finished his collegiate career at the University of Central Florida for two years. At UCF, Zapponi played two seasons with current Boys in Blue forward Romario Williams, with them being roommates.
Zapponi grew up playing futsal and basketball for first division side Fluminense Futebol Clube from age 11-18 and then moved to Uniao Central Futebol Clube for two seasons before coming to the United States.
