PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots men's soccer program has added former Timbers midfielder Ben Zemanski as the new assistant coach, announced head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt on Wednesday. Zemanski, who also played for Chivas USA, was with the Timbers from 2013-17, and he helped Portland win MLS Cup in 2015."I'm excited to welcome Ben to the Portland Soccer family," Carlin-Voigt said. "After a national search, Ben's commitment to Portland, his experience in the game and his character separated him from the pack. Ben understands the special opportunity at hand and will embrace the student-athlete experience to help each of our players unlock their full potential. Ben comes highly recommended by many influential coaches and is well respected in the city as a team player who is organized, driven and passionate about the game. I'm confident he will work hard to help mentor our players, while searching for new Pilots who fit our program's vision and soccer culture. Ben's story is one that will resonate with our players as he wasn't given anything in his career and grinded his way to the pinnacle of college soccer followed by a seven-year pro MLS playing career capped by winning MLS Cup.""Although I grew up and spent most of my life in the Midwest, Portland feels like home," said Zemanski, who was most recently coaching in the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy. "I played five years of my professional career here; won MLS Cup here; my wife and I were married downtown. I am beyond grateful for the chance to return to Soccer City, USA, and reestablish our roots with a community we hold dear."Originally from Pittsburgh, Pa., Zemanski played collegiately at the University of Akron before embarking on a professional career in MLS. He began his career with Chivas USA, who selected him in the third round of the 2010 SuperDraft, and he joined the Timbers prior to the 2013 season. Zemanski appeared in 61 matches for the Timbers, who also finished second in the Western Conference in 2013 in addition to winning the 2015 MLS Cup. Zemanski played in 133 MLS games overall during his career."After meeting Nick, getting a glimpse of his vision to build off the Pilots' rich history, and hearing his strategy to take the program to new heights, I knew this was where I wanted to be," added Zemanski. "I am honored and thankful to be offered this opportunity and am massively excited to play my part in the University of Portland's next chapter."A 2005 NSCAA High School All-American, Zemanski was named the Zips' Newcomer of the Year in 2006, and he earned All-MAC recognition in 2008 and 2009. As a senior, he was one of 10 finalists nationally for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, and he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team. The Zips reached the NCAA Postseason three times with Zemanski, which included a trip to the 2009 College Cup Final.Zemanski completes the men's soccer coaching staff for the Pilots as he joins Carlin-Voigt, new assistant coach Austin Nyquist, and the director of goalkeeping Emerson De Oliveira.