The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
05.03.2021 | Women's Basketball
The second in a series designed to honor those within the Women's Basketball program, Kyra Lambert writes about Sports Performance Coach Zack Zillner..
The following is the second in a series of pieces written by Texas Women's Basketball point guard Kyra Lambert, who recently concluded her collegiate playing career during the Longhorns' Elite 8 run this past season. The "Game Changers" series is Lambert's way of shining a spotlight on, and thanking, those within the program that helped contribute to Texas' success this year.
Game Changers: Zack Zillner
By Kyra Lambert
As I have watched more and more basketball over the years, it has become easy to see how the development of skills such as ball handling, shooting, and passing translate into the outcomes of games. However, what is often overlooked is the role sports performance plays in the success of the team. Strength, conditioning, agility, mobility, and recovery are all integral in the functionality and overall performance of athletes. For example, in the NCAA Tournament, the teams who've built the best sports performance foundation perform noticeably better than those that neglect the role's importance. You can tell a program's emphasis, or lack thereof, on this area depending on whether players look tired, whether there's the occurrence of multiple injuries in a season, or the players just look/play weak. A large part of why we were able to make a run into the Elite Eight this past season was because of our Strength and Conditioning coach, Zack Zillner.
Before I committed to playing here at the University of Texas, I did my research. With my history of knee injuries, I knew that having a great strength and conditioning coach was imperative. It was actually one of the biggest deciding factors in my choice to come to Texas. Once I transferred and started summer workouts with Zack, I knew why people spoke so highly of him. Being coached by him was one of the best things that could've ever happened to me as an athlete and a person. I've been in college for a while, so I already had a good understanding of how to take care of my body. I love information. Learning how the body works and different exercises to improve my functionality and performance excites me. Every time I worked with Zack, I left with new information and my body always felt better than when I walked in that day. His attention to detail is incredible and he can explain how each exercise directly translates to the game of basketball.
On a team, every athlete has different areas they need to work on because nobody is built the same way. Zack didn't give us the "cookie-cutter" workouts where everyone lifts the same way at the same weight. He helped all of us in the areas we needed to improve on. When we needed to be pushed, he provided the encouragement and intensity necessary to help us reach our next level. We all had certain body, performance, and weight goals we wanted to reach, and Zack tailored our workouts to achieve these objectives. During the summer and throughout the season he tracked each player's data and performance in the weight room and on the court. With these metrics, he showed us the areas we needed to improve in and the areas we were already performing well in. Once we saw the numbers and graphs, he always explained what each one meant in a way we could understand.
There are many characteristics that make a great coach. Great coaches are passionate, caring, focused, driven, great listeners, strong communicators, and the list goes on. Combine all of these traits, add some personality and humor, and you have Zack. From bringing the energy and enthusiasm to 6am track workouts, to giving great food suggestions in the Austin-area, Zack is an invaluable part of this program in every way. He has a wealth of knowledge and, I can attest, is one of the best in the country at what he does. The great thing about Zack is that he cares not only about our physical health, but also our mental well-being. I have had countless conversations with him about so much more than sports. Whether we were in off-season workouts or in the thick of the in-season grind, Zack always provided a positive, yet realistic, perspective. This program is so much better because of him. I am forever grateful for the role he has played in my development both on and off the court!
