B-C grad Ziats happy to be coaching at University High
YORK RUN — Shane Ziats had been on the football field before many times at Albert Gallatin High School.
Friday night was a completely different perspective for the Beth-Center graduate when the Colonials hosted University High of Morgantown.
Ziats was an assistant coach at AG for several years before moving on to his current position as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for University High.
“It was different that’s for sure,” said Ziats, the son of Stephen and Kathy Ziats of Marianna. “Being on the other side of the field, different locker rooms, it was all kind of strange.
“It brought up some different emotions.”
The Hawks lost a hard-fought game to the Colonials, 13-12, with AG securing the win when University High freshman quarterback Chase Edwards’ two-point conversion pass with 1:41 remaining was deflected. University High had just completed an 88-yard, 12-play touchdown drive.
“It was a great game,” Ziats said. “We matched up pretty well. We just came up short.
“Our offenses are similar. They didn’t hit a lot of big plays, just little chunks here and there, eating away at us, that’s what their offense is. We try to run the same type of offense. They just did it a little better than us.”
Ziats has a vast amount of coaching experience. After starring as a starting offensive guard for the Bulldogs he went on to be a three-year letterman as an offensive lineman at California University of Pa., where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree.
Ziats held assistant coaching positions in football at Beth-Center and West Greene before moving on to college where he was on the staffs of the University of Charleston and then Mansfield University. From there he went to AG and then to University High, where he currently works.
The Hawks are part of two conferences, the OVAC and the TRAC. The former is the largest high school conference in the country. Two years ago University High won the championship of both conferences and finished third in the state of West Virginia.
Ziats is happy in his current situation.
“This is my fourth year with this team and I love these guys with all my heart,” Ziats said. “This is a great group of guys, they put forth effort, they come out to work hard everyday and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”
Ziats resides in Masontown, Pa., with his wife Laura and their two sons, Lucas and Dominic.