Phil Zacharias

Phil Zacharias, who possesses nearly 30 years of coaching experience, joined the University of Cincinnati football staff as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator in Jan. 2010. Zacharias, whose resume is dotted with successful stints at both the collegiate and professional levels, comes to UC after spending the 2009 season as a quality control assistant at Central Michigan University. He was the defensive coordinator at Mt. Hebron High School in 2008, coaching his son Jameson during his senior year and spent the 2006-07 seasons coaching running backs at Maryland, working on the offensive side of the ball for the first time during his career. In 2007, Maryland ranked fifth in the ACC in total offense (340.9 ypg), including fifth in rushing (137.5 ypg). Seniors Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore combine to average nearly 130 rushing yards per game. Lattimore was seventh in the ACC and 86th nationally in rushing (67.1 ypg), and tallied a league-best 13 rushing TDs. Ball ended the year tied for ninth in the league in rushing (59.1 ypg). He ended his career as Maryland[apos]s fourth all-time leading rusher (2,487 yards). In 2006, Ball and Lattimore rushed for over 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Zacharias, 50, joined the Terps in 2006 after spending the 2005 season working with the defensive line at Temple. He spent his coaching career prior to Maryland on the defensive side of the ball while also working with special teams. He did a three-year stint in the NFL, joining the Baltimore Ravens in 2002 as a defensive line assistant before coaching outside linebackers in 2003 when the Ravens won the AFC North crown and advanced to the playoffs. He was a defensive assistant for the team in 2004. In 2003, linebacker Terrell Suggs was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and fellow linebackers Peter Boulware and Adalius Thomas were both selected to the Pro Bowl. Thomas was the conference[apos]s special teams selection. In 2004, the Ravens ranked sixth in the National Football League in total defense and had four defensive players selected to the Pro Bowl (Suggs, safety Ed Reed, linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Chris McAlister). Prior to his move into the NFL ranks, Zacharias spent seven years at Stanford (1995-2001), directing defensive ends and special teams under Tyrone Willingham. In four of his seven seasons, he coached a Pac-10 leader in sacks. Under his tutelage, the Cardinal ranked second nationally in punt returns (2001) and kickoff returns (1995). In addition, Zacharias tutored first team All-America kick returner Luke Powell and Lombardi Award finalist Kailee Wong, a second-round selection of the Minnesota Vikings. No stranger to success at the college level, Zacharias[apos] stops have included trips to the Liberty, Sun, Rose, Seattle, and Emerald bowls games in order. Zacharias began his coaching career at Georgetown (Ky.) College in 1981 as a secondary coach before moving to Saint Paul College in Virginia, where he mentored defensive backs from 1982-84. The Sewickley, Pa., native also served as an assistant at North Carolina (graduate assistant, 1985), Morehead State (defensive coordinator, 1988; outside linebackers and special teams, 1987; strength coach and outside linebackers, 1986), Eastern Michigan (outside linebackers, 1989-90), Rutgers (outside linebackers, 1991-93) and Asbury Park (N.J.) HS (defensive coordinator, 1994). During his time at Morehead State, Zacharias recruited the Cincinnati area for the Eagles. He has also served NFL internships with the St. Louis Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Atlanta Falcons. A four-year letterwinner at Salem College (W.Va.), Zacharias earned a bachelor[apos]s degree in physical education and health in 1981 before receiving his master[apos]s in education at Georgetown College in 1982. He attended Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pa., where he played football, baseball and ran track. Zacharias and his wife, Linda, have a son Jameson. Jameson is a redshirt freshman defensive back at Monmouth University.