Meet Sam Zanders, Jr., also known as Coach Z, who has 17 years of experience in health and human performance. This year marks his second year at Veterans High School. His career highlights include serving as an adjunct professor of health sciences and head strength and conditioning coach for Wesleyan College, director of athletic development and performance, defensive coordinator, and interim head football coach for the Academy for Classical Education. Coach Z also served as an assistant football and strength and conditioning coach at Telfair Co. High. Coach Z has also worked as a Division I FCS and FBS football strength and conditioning coach at Mercer University and Georgia Southern University. He has trained national-caliber athletes who qualified for the USA Olympic Weightlifting Junior Nationals. In addition, he has worked as an exercise physiologist for the state of Georgia-Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and as lead exercise physiologist for Atrium Health Navicent. He has also completed professional development with the Philadelphia Eagles and serves as a sports science performance optimization consultant for collegiate and professional-level teams as well as other individuals in the high-performance industry. Furthermore, he is a published author in a peer-reviewed journal by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Coach Z remains a dedicated mentee of Conor Hughes, the head of strength and conditioning at Army West Point Football, and Dr. Bob LeFavi, the former chair of Georgia Southern University Health and Sciences Department.

Originally from Helena, Georgia, Coach Z graduated from Telfair County High where he was a four-year starter in football and a letterman in track and field. Experiencing personal season-ending injuries and surgeries, he was fueled by these setbacks, which heightened his passion and commitment to the field of health and human performance. He completed his undergraduate studies with a degree in psychology and biology and a minor in chemistry. Following that, he pursued a master's degree in exercise science and health promotion with a focus on performance enhancement and injury prevention, as well as a post-masters degree in rehabilitation science. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in health and human performance.

Coach Z lives by Mark Twain's quote, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why." He is a firm believer in God's love and purpose. His goal is to bring out the best in individuals, and his greatest motivation and “WHY” is his son, Sam III (Tre'). He considers being a father to be the most important and rewarding title he has ever held.

Coach Z holds the following certifications and specializations:

National Strength & Conditioning Association: Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist 
National Academy of Sports Medicine: Performance Enhancement Specialist; Corrective Exercise Specialist
Functional Range Systems: Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialists
USA Weightlifting: Weightlifting & Sports Performance Coach Level 1; Program Design
National Sports Performance Association: Certified Program Design Specialist; Certified Speed and Agility Coach; Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach; Certified Sports Nutrition Coach
National Association of Speed and Explosion: Certified Speed Specialist; State Director