A four-year starter for Lebanon Valley's Football team, David Zimmerman did it all for the Flying Dutchmen on the football field.
 
In his senior season, the offensive tackle/tight end became the first player in school history to be picked to participate in two bowl games: The East Coast Bowl and Aztec Bowl. The East Coast Bowl was started in 2001 and is an annual small college all-star game that's played the first Saturday following Thanksgiving in Petersburg, Va., featuring some of the top Division I-AA, II, III, and NAIA football players. The Aztec Bowl pits a select group of Division III all-stars against the Mexican Nation Team. In 2006, the game was played in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Zimmerman was one of 48 players from around the country who made up the team.
 
Zimmerman was a two-time All-MAC honoree. In 2006, he helped lead the way for an offense that ranked second in the MAC in rushing (166.6 yards per game), third in passing (182.9 yards per game), and third in scoring (23.5 points per game). After lining up at left tackle over the first four games, Zimmerman started five of his last six games at tight end, where he made five catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
 
What made you decide to attend LVC?
 Looking back on those days I really was faced with two decisions: 1) Move on from participating in athletics and attend a university closer to the area I grew up in Western PA or 2) Continue pursuit of playing collegiate athletics. Admittedly, I was not a highly recruited high school athlete but I had a passion to play and I'll admit I had a little chip on my shoulder to prove doubters wrong. When I stepped foot on LVC's campus the first time the decision was easy, it felt like home. The rural setting, corn fields and small town feel connected with me immediately and I never looked back. 
 
Tell me about your recruiting process with Coach Silecchia. 
Well my recruiting process was rather unconventional from most high school athletes. Resources at my high school were thin which led to my family putting together my own recruiting tape to send to Coach and his team to review. One interesting thing about this process is I was originally recruited to throw Javelin at LVC, but fortunately Coach Silecchia and his team gave a small-town kid from Western PA a chance to prove himself on the football field. 
 
What changed throughout the team when Coach Monos was named head coach? 
I think the biggest change around our program was culture. Culture is something that is hard to define sometimes but you know it when you see it and Coach Monos' brought a winning culture back to the program. We had talent and many teams before us had talent, but it takes synergy and cohesion to create a winning culture and Coach Monos and his staff quickly brought that to LVC. 
 
In your senior season, you began as a starting offensive lineman, but then switched to tight end. How easy/difficult was that switch? 
So here's the story, before practice every day the quarterbacks would warm up throwing balls to the receivers and I liked to join in on the fun and would run routes. I'm not sure this is exactly how Coach saw it, but I like to think he thought I had good hands and was decently quick for a big guy and thought putting me at tight end in certain situations could benefit us, especially on running downs where we would basically have 6 offensive linemen. As far as learning my limited role at tight end it wasn't all that difficult because the blocking schemes were similar and 80% of the time I was staying in and blocking. However, I am proud to say they let me run a few route here and there and I scored a couple touchdowns along the way. Only regret I have is not dunking the ball over the goalpost after my first TD, coach warned me against and that is the only time I wished I wouldn't have listened to him!
 
In 2006, you were the first LVC football player picked to play in the East Coast Bowl and Aztec Bowl. What was your experience like at both of those All-Star Games? 
I am still very proud to be the first player in school history to be selected to these games. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Aztec Bowl in Mexico as it conflicted with a few of my courses, however, the East Coast Bowl in Petersburg, VA was a great experience. There was North and South team comprised of Division 1-AA, II and III players. The week included a mini-combine for NFL, CFL and Arena teams and I was fortunate enough to start at right tackle for the winning North squad. The only defensive linemen that beat me that week went on to play for the Washington Redskins, so all-in-all I held my own. 
 
What's your favorite memory from playing at LVC? 
My time at LVC is one of the happiest times of my life, short of marrying my wife and seeing my boys grow up. I loved game day at LVC, seeing my family roll in from Western PA (by the way they never missed a game!) and leaving the Arnold Sports Center to take the field. I loved playing alongside friends and working together to get the win. From a specific game standpoint there are really two that stick out to me. First, we defeated Widener 3-0 in a monsoon during my second season and while the scoreboard wasn't exciting the payback was priceless. The year before, Widener humbled us deeply with a 74-17 thrashing at home, so it was nice to get another year of strength and confidence under our belt and return the favor the next year. Secondly, earning LVC's first-ever win against Lycoming 15-9, with a goal line stand on October 21, 2006. 
 
What does it mean to be a part of the LVC community? 
I cherish being part of the LVC community a great deal. I grew up at LVC, made some of my dearest friends at LVC and met my beautiful wife, Megan at LVC. During my time at LVC I enjoyed some success on the field and I'm proud of those accomplishments, but it means more to me knowing I was able to build lasting friendships and graduate from a highly regarding academic institution like LVC. 
 
How did competing as a student-athlete prepare you for life after college? 
Being a student-athlete requires dedication, will and even some sacrifice along the way. As I embarked on life after college, learning from sports that adversity will come your way but you overcome it with work ethic and dedication really stuck with me and continues to do so to this day. I remember my first interview leading up to graduation, what a disaster! But, just like in a football game you will have plays that don't go our way, all you can do is get up and dust yourself off and learn from your mistakes. 
 
How has life after college been treating you? Where do you live now and what do you do? 
I have been very fortunate since leaving LVC. First, shortly after graduating from LVC in 2007, I married my beautiful wife, Megan who is also an LVC grad. Shortly after leaving LVC and starting my career in insurance I enrolled at Penn State University and completed my MBA in 2010. In 2011, Megan and I moved to Birmingham, Alabama as a result of an opportunity for me to join American Mining Insurance Company (now Berkley Industrial Comp). I continue my career at Berkley Industrial Comp, a W.R. Berkley Company, to this day serving as their Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer. In 2014 we welcomed our first child, Paul, and have enjoyed watching him grow up and go off to school each day and embrace athletics. In 2017, we welcomed our second boy, Jake, who is doing incredibly well and seeks every opportunity to tackle his older brother. Early in 2020, we moved back to Western PA as Megan joined Penn Highlands Healthcare as Director of Total Rewards. We enjoy being closer to family and I feel very lucky and fortunate for the experiences I've enjoyed since graduating at LVC.  


 
What's one piece of advice you'd give a current LVC student-athlete? 
Soak it in! Time flies and it is really important to live in the moment because before you know it you will be off doing other things. 
 
What's one piece of advice you'd give a prospective student-athlete who's looking to attend LVC? 
Initially, my decision to attend LVC was more the setting and athletic opportunity but even with the academic accolades the college has received, in my opinion it is not enough. LVC is a top-tier learning institution that stacks up against any, and I mean any, school in the nation. If you are an individual that wants to enjoy the collegiate sports scene while also obtaining a first-rate education you simply cannot go wrong with LVC. I hope my children attend LVC one day, in fact it would be an honor. 
 
Anything else you'd like to add? 
I'd like to wrap up and say I will cherish my time at LVC forever. So many good things in my life after LVC can be tied back to experiences in Annville and I thank you for this opportunity to reminisce a bit.