Coaches Corner – Frank Zebrasky

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, May 29, 2017 | 8:08 PM

In this feature titled “Coaches Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts.

This week features head baseball coach Frank Zebrasky of the Carlynton Cougars. Coach Zebrasky is in his rookie year with the Cougars after 7 successful seasons coaching Canon-Mac, in which he led them to the playoffs in the last three years. Led Carlynton to the playoffs this year, despite the Cougars having been absent from the playoffs since 2011. Let’s take a look inside Coach Zebrasky’s corner:

1.       What are some of your pet peeves?

                Athletes with poor work habits!

2.       What is your favorite TV show?

                New: Blue Bloods, Old: Cheers

3.       Who do you look up to the most?

                My Parents!

4.       Who was your favorite sports player growing up and why?

                Growing up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, I would say Roberto Clemente.

5.       What is your favorite quote?

                I actually use two “Hard Work beats Talent when Talent doesn’t Work Hard!” and

“It does not matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up.”

Honorable Mention : “If at first you don’t succeed, try doing what your COACH asked you to do the first time.”

6.       Describe your dream vacation.

Pebble Beach

7.      What is the most important thing you try to preach to your players every year?

Hard work will always serve you well.  Take care of the small things and the big things will follow. “You never know who is watching you.”

8.       Were there any challenges with coaching baseball and girl’s basketball when you were at Canon Mac?

I was very fortunate to have quality Assistant Coaches, the best Athletic Director (Guy Montecalvo) and the support of my players.

9.       What is your proudest moment as a high school baseball coach?

                TIE

?         Watching this group at Carlynton with a combined three year 10-40 record make the playoffs with a 15-5 record this year.

?         Canon-McMillan team going 4-15 in 2011-12 and then winning the section in 2012-2013 with an 8-2 record.

10.   What does it mean to come to Carlynton and make the playoffs in your first year as head coach?

During the 4 previous seasons the baseball team has had a 16-50 record.  It was

exciting to see the players rewarded for working hard to make the playoffs with a 15-5

record.

11.   What was your most embarrassing moment as a high school baseball coach?

                Turning in a previously used line-up card from another season to the opposing team.

12.   Describe the experience of being an assistant basketball, football , and baseball coach for championship teams at Washington high school?

Working on the Coaching staffs of 3 all-time great coaches Guy Montecalvo, Ron Faust, and Bob Peton in their respective sports was a very enriching experience.

Watching firsthand how the dynamics of successful athletic teams can bring the community together .

13.  How did you decide you wanted to coach baseball?

I had always coached baseball. I was the Manager of the Washington entry in the PONY League World Series in 2001 and 2003.  

14.   Does being a teacher at Carlynton add to the experience of being the head baseball coach there?

I think the ability to interact daily in the educational setting has been beneficial.  Working as an Assistant Coach with the Girls Basketball team, Senior team members work in my Life Skills classroom as peers working with the special needs students on a daily basis.  Some of my special needs students attend select home baseball games and interact with my baseball team.  Several of the baseball team players also are involved in our Peer to Peer educational programs.

15.   How important has your family been throughout your coaching career?

I have the ultimate coaching wife, who works as a very talented Elementary Principal in the Washington School District.  The ability to first coach my sons in high school

(Wash High and Canon-McMillan) and then to help them coach Football at Avella during the last few seasons has been very rewarding.

Tags: Carlynton