FC Ballyhoo coach Matt Zimmerman tragically passed away after a long battle with stage 4 cancer.
Matt was a soccer coach at Dallastown High School, Red Lion High School, and FC Ballyhoo.
According to Matt’s official Facebook handle, he went to Dallastown Area Senior High School and later studied Earth and Space Science education at Pennsylvania State University from 1986 to 1991.
His LinkedIn profile shows that he taught science at North Carroll Middle School from 1991 to 1996.
He also served as an Earth Science teacher at Dallastown Area School.
Coach Matt Zimmerman Died From The Complications Of Stage 4 Cancer
FC Ballyhoo coach Matt Zimmerman took his last breath on Sunday, April 27, 2025, after a battle with Stage 4 Cancer.
FC Ballyhoo took to their official Facebook handle and mourned the tragic death of Matt. They wrote,
Very sad news about one of our own, Coach Matt Zimmerman. You affected so many young lives in York County, both on and off the soccer field. A coach, teacher, husband, father, mentor and great friend. Rest in peace Zimm.
FC Ballyhoo
Pennsylvania resident Julius Muldrow also took to his Facebook handle and mourned the loss by stating,
RIP Matt Zimmerman……you are free from the shackles of cancer….you fought the good fight my friend
Julius Muldrow
Matt’s long-time friend Tami Behler, an Inch & Co-Real Estate realtor, also took to her Facebook and remembered her time with Matt. She wrote,
I met an amazing guy when I first moved from Colorado to Dallastown. We quickly became friends. I found his sarcasm and sweetness attractive as a 15 year old girl. He played basketball and once at a game when I sat with his mom, he ran across the court for a lay up, she stood up and yelled “go pumpkin”. She immediately sat down and with a look of fear and said “did I just yell that?” I laughed and said yes. From that moment on and for the next 40 years, we called each other pumpkin. Today the world lost an amazing teacher, coach, father, friend and pumpkin. I will forever be grateful for having your friendship. RIP Matt Zimmerman
Tami Behler
Audra Garrod, a co-owner at Triple Honey Studio, offered heartfelt condolences and prayed for Matt’s family. She stated,
If you were lucky enough to be coached by Matt Zimmerman, you know the incredible impact he made. He was the first coach who truly broke through to me. He pushed me to be better, work harder, and fall even more in love with the game. He was tough as nails — and I’ll be honest, there were days I hated his guts. But he would have given any one of us the shirt off his back without hesitation. We lost one of the very best. I’ll never forget him, his tough love, or the lessons he taught me. May he now be at peace. Thinking of his daughter and family.
Audra Garrod
Other close ones and relatives have also offered their heartfelt condolences and sent prayers to Matt’s family to stay strong in this challenging moment. Rest in Heaven, Matt Zimmerman.
Matt Zimmerman And His Wife Karen Piwonski Shared One Daughter
FC Ballyhoo coach Matt Zimmerman married Karen Piwonski-Zimmerman in 1991 after dating for several years.
Born on July 21, 1968, in Detroit, Michigan, Karen was the daughter of Walter E. and Frances A. (Lubiszewski) Piwonski.
Following graduation, she worked most of her career in the banking sector as a Branch Manager.
Sadly, Matt and Karen’s married life ended after 30 years after Karen left the world on December 7, 2021, at 53, after a battle with cancer.
Life Service was celebrated on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at Olewiler and Heffner Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc.
Matt and Karen were blessed with one daughter, Hannah Zimmerman-Federle, who studied Biochemistry at Duquesne University and studied PhD Chemistry at IU Indianapolis.
She tied the knot with Jackson Federle, a Marquette University graduate.
Currently, Hannah is mourning the tragic death of her supportive and devoted father, Matt Zimmerman.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Karen Piwonski-Zimmerman had two sisters: Nancy A. Piwonski-Nemeth and Cynthia A. Piwonski.
- Hannah Zimmerman-Federle is a research assistant at Purdue University and an analytical development scientist at Corteva Agriscience.
