Samuel Zambanini Jr., also known as "Coach Z," brings decades of experience as both a player and coach to his role as PT Coaching Assistant. He previously served as Head Baseball and Head Football Coach at Conemaugh Township High School in Davidsville, PA, where he led his teams to 10 District Championships and three state final four appearances. Sam retired as the winningest baseball coach in Somerset County, PA, with numerous players advancing to college baseball, including three MLB draftees: Rick Matsko (Cleveland Indians), Matt Bimeal (Toronto Blue Jays), and Ben Watkins (New York Yankees).
Sam also coached in the Johnstown AAABA Collegiate Baseball League, mentoring future MLB players like Joe Vitko (NY Mets), Mike Holtz (Angels), and Keith Williams (SF Giants). He coached Tom Walter (Wake Forest) and Randy Mazey (West Virginia), both current/former Division I head coaches.
As a player, Sam starred in college baseball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and Allegany Community College. He led Conemaugh Township High School to its first District Championship and state runner-up in 1979 and was named MVP of the Johnstown AAABA League in 1980. In 1983, he signed with the New York Mets.
Inducted into the Somerset County Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, Sam continues to shape the game through his coaching. He resides in Laredo with his wife, Valerie, and is surrounded by family, including his daughter Kayla, son Arek, daughter-in-law Mayra and his grandkids Arian and Alahna.
Arek serves as the current Head Baseball Coach at LBJ High School in Laredo, and Kayla is the Head Athletic Trainer at TAMIU.
