New football coach for the Aztecs
Photo Credit: Erin Blevins
Alex Bernal
February 5, 2010
Filed under Sports
Zane Zamenski of South Mountain High School was named the head coach of the Aztecs football program Friday afternoon.
Zamenski is filling the shoes of the retiring Gary Venturo, who has had a huge impact at Corona del Sol.
“He (Venturo) will be remembered as a great man, who created even better men (at Corona),” Corona Principal Susan Edwards said, “He models with such integrity.”
Zamenski was named one of two finalists who applied for the coaching job. The other finalist was Exercise Physiology teacher Ken Olson who has been an assistant coach at Corona for more than 10 years.
“It’s taken a lot of process,” Edwards said, “This selection wasn’t taken lightly.”
Those who decided on the new coach were Edwards, Corona Athletic Director Dan Nero, and Tempe Union High School District Athletic Director Dr. Ken Salas.
One of 10 candidates, in-state and out-of-state, Zamenski went through a series of interviews that started on Jan. 20.
Zamenski has had many years of high school and collegiate playing experience, including backing up future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young at Brigham Young University. After high school, Zamenski was on the national Blue Chip list as a quarterback an was sought after by many colleges.
He has had 25 years coaching experience at the high school, collegiate, and PIFL level, where he has coached players such as Joe Germaine and Tim Rattay, who later played in the NFL.
“A football coach who is qualified enough to be a head coach will never steer you wrong,” top college prospect Todd Peat said. “It’s a matter of players buying in and executing. Ultimately it’s up to us to perform.”
Zamenski will be the third Aztec football coach in Corona’s 32-year history, along with Venturo and Larry Hughes.
“I’m looking forward to the entire experience at Corona,” Zamenski said, “You (Corona) have an excellent program over there and throughout the state.”
Zamenski is looking forward to pursuing excellence at Corona and is planning on making the Aztecs as good as they can possibly be.
“What the mind can concieve, the body can achieve,” he said.
Ahmed Soussi contributed to this report.
