Gordon College Director of Athletics Jason Linders has announced the hiring of Zachary Scarano as the new Head Men's Lacrosse Coach. With a diverse background in coaching, education, and ministry, Scarano brings a unique blend of faith first leadership and competitive coaching experience to the Fighting Scots.
"We are proud to welcome Zachary Scarano as the new Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Gordon College," said Linders. "His Christ-centered leadership and commitment to developing student-athletes both spiritually and competitively mark the beginning of an exciting time for our men's lacrosse program. Zachary's unique blend of ministry, coaching experience, connections with clubs like FCA Lacrosse and TRUE Lacrosse, as well as his passion for the game aligns perfectly with Gordon's mission and the future we envision for Fighting Scots lacrosse."
Scarano most recently served as a recruiting coordinator, defensive coordinator, and ministry coordinator for the men's lacrosse program at Messiah University. During his stint with the Falcons, Scarano helped spearhead the program's most successful recruiting class to date, with 20 recruits in the class of 2025. In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Scarano assisted in developing practice plans, game plans and scouting reports. Off the field, Scarano organized weekly team bible studies, athlete-centered chapel services, and an international mission trip to Zambia.
Prior to his time in Grantham, Scarano was a missionary in Himalayan Mountains. During that time, he spent nearly five months in missionary training school with a prime focus on biblical studies and team building, followed by three months in the Himalayas collaborating with churches and ministries. Scarano has also taken multiple short-term mission trips to Croatia and Zambia, and worked at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic in 2019 as a full-time caretaker and English teacher.
"It is a great honor to lead and serve the Gordon College men's lacrosse program in this capacity, said Scarano. "I would like to thank Jason Linders, President Michael Hammond, and Jon Welty Peachey for extending me the opportunity to be Gordon's head coach. It will be the goal and mission of this program to grow high-character men through the game of lacrosse in alignment with the college's commitment to faith and excellence."
In addition to his collegiate experience, Scarano spent four years coaching at the high school and club levels. Starting his high school coaching career in 2019, Scarano's defense guided The Taft School to a No. 1 national ranking in the US by Inside Lacrosse, while winning the GEICO National Championship. Then, the defensive-minded coach continued his success at The Woodberry Forest School, helping lead the team to their first conference championship in 12 years. On the club circuit, Scarano has spent the past five years coaching with The Fellowship of Christian Athletes's National Team, and helps lead their annual summer camp. For the past year, he has also coached with TRUE Lacrosse in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Taking advantage of the NCAA DIII student-athlete model, Scarano graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2018 as a triple major in mathematics, economics and Spanish while holding a starting role on the Wabash College Men's Lacrosse team, leading the team in goals and points during his freshman year. Scarano then studied at The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, earning his Master's Degree in Education through the prestigious Boarding School Teaching Residency Program, graduating in 2021.
