Coach Zawacki Still Having Fun

Rich Zawacki still remembers the time in 1972 when he was all but drafted to take over the tennis team at Don Bosco.

Rich Zawacki, who coaches bowling and tennis at Don Bosco, could earn his 600th tennis victory later this week.

"I remember one of the seniors coming up to me in the hallway," said Zawacki, who was right out of college and more interested in going to law school than coaching. "He said 'I hear you're taking over the tennis program. Do you know how to play?' "

Apparently, he knew enough.

Zawacki, who played varsity tennis at Bloomfield College, has 598 career wins as a tennis coach after Monday's 3-2 loss to Wayne Hills and could hit the 600 mark sometime this week. The Ironmen (2-1) host Wayne Valley at Ramapo College today, travel to Passaic on Wednesday and host Passaic Tech on Friday.

It would be the latest milestone in a brilliant coaching career for the Bosco alum that has spanned more then 38 years and three sports at the school.

"It's just fun," said Zawacki, 61, who also won 331 career games as the soccer coach before retiring in 1996. "There's a bond that develops between players and their coach that I enjoy. People tell me that I look young. It's because dealing with youth keeps you young."

Since 1972, Zawacki-coached teams have won more than 1,000 events in tennis, soccer and bowling. His teams have brought home seven State championships, 15 sectional titles and seven Bergen County titles, and he has never had a losing season in soccer or tennis.

"Whether it's soccer, bowling or tennis, his accomplishments simply mirror his passion," said senior Chris Minor, a four-year varsity starter at singles for the Ironmen.

"It's funny because you'll be sitting in his class and he'll say 'Hey, I coached your dad,' " senior Mike Kelly said. "You appreciate that he's been around so long and so successful that he must be a good coach."

And the memories come pouring out when you talk to him.

He talks about the Ironmen's first State soccer championship when they blanked Christian Brothers, 4-0, in 1979, just two years after he took over the fledgling program. One of his captains when he took over the program was eventual Bosco coach Roy Nygren.

"They were coached by Danny Kane who also coached the tennis team that kicked our butts every year [six times in the State final]," said Zawacki, whose only experience in soccer had come in college when his friends needed another body to play indoors.

His eyes light up when he remembers Bosco's second State bowling championship in 1993, when the Ironmen rolled 1,200 in the third and final game to come back from third place to win.

"Chris Mallo, who was averaging about 160 on the JV, bowled 266 that game to lead us," he said. "It was like chasing a dream. I'll never forget it."

In tennis, he talks about players such as Dan Sauter, whom he calls probably the best singles player to come through Bosco in his time, and Chris Riccobono, who won Bosco's first Bergen singles championship in 1997.

BY GREGORY SCHUTTA

Photo Credit: TYSON TRISH

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