Bio entering the 2019-20 season
The fourth head coach in program history, Bill Zack enters his seventh year as the head coach of the Aztec Rowing program, leading the program into its sixth year in the American Athletic Conference.
In 2019, Zack was named the WIRA Coach of the Year, his third time earning this honor and first at SDSU. Zack currently serves as the WIRA president and is one of seven coaches on the board, serving as the steward for Division I women's varsity teams.
In 2019, Zack’s rowers also set a program record by having six student-athletes named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar-Athletes. Additionally, at least 27 Aztec rowers have been named to the AAC All-Academic team in each of the past four seasons.
Zack helped the program make huge strides upon his arrival on the Mesa, seeing the Aztecs improve their final finish at the conference championships in each of his first four years. In 2017, SDSU tied for third at the AAC Championships.
Since SDSU joined the AAC, they have placed at least two rowers on the all-conference team each year.
Prior to arriving on The Mesa, Zack had a highly successful stint as the head coach at the University of Portland. During Zack's time with the Pilots, he was responsible for the transition of the team from club to varsity status. At the 2013 West Coast Conference (WCC) Championships, the Pilots tied for third in the point standings in only their second year of competition. Zack also coached three rowers who were recognized a part of WCC Rowing all-conference teams, 12 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) national scholar-athletes, four members of the WCC Rowing all-academic team and 15 WCC Rowing all-academic team honorable mention recipients.
Prior to his time in Portland, Zack was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the UCLA women's rowing program. Zack's highlights with the Bruins include helping the team earn its first-ever berth to the NCAA Championships. At the regatta Zack coached the Bruins four to a 14th place overall finish. During his stay in Westwood, Zack coached a UCLA four to a bronze medal at the Pac-10 Championships and the novice eight crews to gold and silver medal performances.
Before his time with UCLA, Zack compiled vast coaching experience, serving six years as the women's head coach at Sacramento State (1996-2002), one year as the men's head coach at Old Dominion (1995-96) and one year as the elite lightweight women's coach at the Long Beach Rowing Association (1994-95). In addition, he spent three seasons as the women's head coach at Long Beach State (1991-94) and six years coaching at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (1986-1991).
While at Sacramento State, Zack was twice honored as the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Coach of the Year. In 1997 he led the Hornets to a gold medal at the Pac-10 Championships and a bronze medal finish at the NCAA Championships. Zack also coached a Sacramento State eight to victory at the Women's Henley Regatta.
Throughout his career Zack has been very involved with USRowing. Moving up from the U.S. Olympic Festival team manager in 1989, he served as an assistant team leader for the 1996 Olympic rowing team and has served as a team leader for the Pan-American Games, World Rowing Championships and the Junior World Rowing Championships. Zack coached the women's lightweight quad to a sixth-place finish at the 1997 World Rowing Championships. In addition, Zack saw the junior women's quad to a 13th-place finish at the 2008 World Rowing Junior Championships.
Zack has been actively involved with the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) throughout his career, serving numerous terms on the board of directors and has also spent time at the president and was the long-time head of the CRCA Legislative Review Committee.
While attending the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Zack was a member of the collegiate rowing team until he graduated in 1980. In 1986, Zack earned his master's degree in business administration from the Yale School of Management. Zack retired from the Coast Guard in 1996 with the rank of lieutenant commander. He was inducted into the Coast Guard Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.
The fourth head coach in program history, Bill Zack enters his seventh year as the head coach of the Aztec Rowing program, leading the program into its sixth year in the American Athletic Conference.
In 2019, Zack was named the WIRA Coach of the Year, his third time earning this honor and first at SDSU. Zack currently serves as the WIRA president and is one of seven coaches on the board, serving as the steward for Division I women's varsity teams.
In 2019, Zack’s rowers also set a program record by having six student-athletes named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar-Athletes. Additionally, at least 27 Aztec rowers have been named to the AAC All-Academic team in each of the past four seasons.
Zack helped the program make huge strides upon his arrival on the Mesa, seeing the Aztecs improve their final finish at the conference championships in each of his first four years. In 2017, SDSU tied for third at the AAC Championships.
Since SDSU joined the AAC, they have placed at least two rowers on the all-conference team each year.
Prior to arriving on The Mesa, Zack had a highly successful stint as the head coach at the University of Portland. During Zack's time with the Pilots, he was responsible for the transition of the team from club to varsity status. At the 2013 West Coast Conference (WCC) Championships, the Pilots tied for third in the point standings in only their second year of competition. Zack also coached three rowers who were recognized a part of WCC Rowing all-conference teams, 12 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) national scholar-athletes, four members of the WCC Rowing all-academic team and 15 WCC Rowing all-academic team honorable mention recipients.
Prior to his time in Portland, Zack was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the UCLA women's rowing program. Zack's highlights with the Bruins include helping the team earn its first-ever berth to the NCAA Championships. At the regatta Zack coached the Bruins four to a 14th place overall finish. During his stay in Westwood, Zack coached a UCLA four to a bronze medal at the Pac-10 Championships and the novice eight crews to gold and silver medal performances.
Before his time with UCLA, Zack compiled vast coaching experience, serving six years as the women's head coach at Sacramento State (1996-2002), one year as the men's head coach at Old Dominion (1995-96) and one year as the elite lightweight women's coach at the Long Beach Rowing Association (1994-95). In addition, he spent three seasons as the women's head coach at Long Beach State (1991-94) and six years coaching at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (1986-1991).
While at Sacramento State, Zack was twice honored as the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Coach of the Year. In 1997 he led the Hornets to a gold medal at the Pac-10 Championships and a bronze medal finish at the NCAA Championships. Zack also coached a Sacramento State eight to victory at the Women's Henley Regatta.
Throughout his career Zack has been very involved with USRowing. Moving up from the U.S. Olympic Festival team manager in 1989, he served as an assistant team leader for the 1996 Olympic rowing team and has served as a team leader for the Pan-American Games, World Rowing Championships and the Junior World Rowing Championships. Zack coached the women's lightweight quad to a sixth-place finish at the 1997 World Rowing Championships. In addition, Zack saw the junior women's quad to a 13th-place finish at the 2008 World Rowing Junior Championships.
Zack has been actively involved with the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) throughout his career, serving numerous terms on the board of directors and has also spent time at the president and was the long-time head of the CRCA Legislative Review Committee.
While attending the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Zack was a member of the collegiate rowing team until he graduated in 1980. In 1986, Zack earned his master's degree in business administration from the Yale School of Management. Zack retired from the Coast Guard in 1996 with the rank of lieutenant commander. He was inducted into the Coast Guard Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.