Zapien named Pasadena High head football coach
Posted on 03/05/2019
by Dwight Henson and Reesha Brown
PISD Communications
David Zapien will lead the Pasadena High School football team as its new head coach, following the retirement of longtime coach Jeffery Ganske. A formal announcement, regarding the appointment of PHS’ former offensive coordinator of three years, was made during Pasadena ISD’s February board meeting.
Zapien is bringing 12 years of coaching experience to the gridiron. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2007, Zapien served as the offensive coordinator, head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach at West Oso High School in Corpus Christi between 2007 and 2013. During that time, he lead the baseball team to over 70 wins, was twice named the bi-district champion head baseball coach, won the basketball state championship in 2011 and ranked top 10 in the state for football in 2009.
Between 2014 and 2016, he served as W.T. High School’s passing coordinator, quarterback coach and assistant basketball coach. He was twice named regional finalist as the assistant baseball coach and coached the quarterback to first team all district and all region. In 2016, he earned a master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Concordia University in Irvine, California.
Zapien’s roots run deep in Pasadena. He graduated from Sam Rayburn High School after attending Richey Elementary and Bondy Intermediate. While he will always stay true to his Rayburn Texan pride, Zapien plans to take the Eagles to new heights – creating a more competitive team, as they have not had a winning season since 2002.
"We're going to keep things simple, and through our leadership program we will build young men of great character," said Zapien.
As head football coach of the Eagles, Zapien will also serve as the campus athletics coordinator and work with PHS coaches to ensure success in all athletic programs.
“He’s very innovative. He’s got some experience in running the offense and we think he’s going to do a fantastic job,” said Pasadena ISD Athletics Director Rupert Jaso.
Since the board meeting, Zapien has already begun to have an impact on the students and staff at PHS.
"He's hit the ground running and brought about a new, positive energy," said Pasadena High School Principal Joe Saavedra. "He does a great job building relationships both on the field and off the field and we know he will continue to do all he can to be supportive of all things Eagle Nation."
PHS Principal Joe Saavedra, PHS Athletics Coordinator and Head Football Coach David Zapien, PISD Athletics Director Rupert Jaso and PHS Assistant Principal Steven Martin