Yang Zhou enters her first season as assistant coach for Academy of Art University women’s soccer.
Most recently, Zhou has served as an assistant coach of the San Francisco Nighthawks of the WPSL since 2007, and the coach for various San Mateo Soccer Club teams since 2006. Zhou coached two teams to 1st place results in the District Cup including her 2007 U-17 girls team, and her 2006 U-13 boys team. Zhou has also been the coach at Notre Dame High School for five years (2006-2010).
In 2000, Zhou became the head coach for a youth soccer team, Da Lian, in China. She promptly helped guide the squad to a 2nd place finish in citywide competition. One year later, Zhou and Da Lian achieved another 2nd place finish, this time in the Chinese National Championship.
From 1997-1999, Zhou was sponsored by the Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies, to compete for and coach the Japanese L. League professional team in Shimizu, Japan.
As a player her highlights include three-time NCAA Division II Collegiate MVP (2002, 2003, 2004), and in 2003, she garnered a selection to the NSCAA/Adidas All-American Team, 1st Team All American – NCAA Division II, and Cal Pac Player of the Year.
Zhou also played for the Chinese National Team from 1990-1996. The squad had first place finishes in the Asian Olympic Games (1990, 1994) and the Asian Cup (1991, 1993, 1995). She captained the team in 1991 and 1995 when they achieved a 4th place finish at the World Cup.
Zhou attended Notre Dame de Namur University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring in Sports Management in 2005. She obtained her general MBA in December 2008. Zhou currently resides in San Carlos, CA.
