Jim Zauzig
- Head Coach 2009
by Chad States
Jim Zauzig looks ahead toward what will be his 13th season at the helm of the Huntingdon Bearcat football team. Currently holding a 96-39 record in 12 seasons and winning 71% of the games he has coached, Zauzig returns 20 letterwinners from a team that finished last season 7-4.
Zauzig has guided the Huntingdon football program back to its rightful
place as one of the most respected and feared in the state of
Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, the Bearcats have won four Big Eight
titles, one Mountain Athletic Conference title, and five District 6
titles, and have advanced as far as the Western Finals.
Coach Zauzig is a 1969 graduate of HAHS having played center and kicker
during his days on the gridiron. He lettered in football, basketball,
and baseball during his four years as a Bearcat. In 1973, Jim earned his
bachelor’s degree from IUP. In 1977, he returned to his home town and
served as line coach for the Bearcats remaining in that role until 1984.
During that stretch, Jim led the Bearcat Junior High team to an amazing
38-0-5 record.
In 1985, Zauzig left the Huntingdon football program and traveled north
to Tyrone to serve as an assistant under Head Coach and friend Charlie
Hoover. The duo was able to transform the Tyrone program into champions
winning consecutive Big 8, Central Counties and Western Conference
championships. In 1986, Zauzig and Hoover guided Tyrone to the District
6 title.
Following his stint at Tyrone, Zauzig turned to the college ranks to
serve as Defensive Line Coach at Juniata College. He also was an
assistant on the Men’s Basketball team, a position that later
transformed into Head Coach on College Hill in 1989.
In 1997, Jim Zauzig was named Head Football Coach for the Bearcats, and
he and the program have been on a collision course with success ever
since. Zauzig has led the ‘Cats to the District 6 playoffs 10 out of the
11 years he has been Head Coach. Twice he has led the Bearcats deep into
the state playoffs including a berth in the Western Finals in 1998.
Jim needs 9 victories to pass JG Everhard as the all-time winningest
coach in Bearcat football history.
Jim Zauzig Coaching Record (96-39 .711)
1997 8-5 District 6 Champs
1998 13-1 Big 8 Champs, District 6 Champs, PIAA Final 4
1999 7-3
2000 5-5
2001 11-1 Big 8 Champs, District 6 Champs
2002 8-2 Big 8 Champs
2003 11-1 Big 8 Champs, District 6 Champs
2004 5-5
2005 9-3 District 6 Champs
2006 9-2 MAC 7 Mtns Champs
2007 3-7
2008 7-4