Zach Tenuta is in his third season on the NSU football coaching staff. He coaches the linebackers and serves as co-defensive coordinator. He comes to NSU from Texas-El Paso, where he was a defensive quality control assistant during the 2019 season.
This is Tenuta's second stint with the Spartans, after having previously been with the program from 2017-18. Tenuta coached the outside linebackers in 2018 and worked with the defensive line in 2017.
In 2017, Tenuta coached a pair of All-MEAC performers on the Spartan defensive line. Chris Lee earned first-team All-MEAC honors, while Nigel Chavis was a third-team selection after ranking ninth in the MEAC in tackles. Both ranked in the top 12 in the MEAC in sacks.
Tenuta came to NSU after serving as defensive line coach in 2016 at Chowan University, a member of the Division II CIAA. In his one year with the Hawks, Tenuta mentored two All-CIAA players.
Prior to Chowan, Tenuta spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Virginia (2014-15), working with the defensive ends. In 2015, Tenuta coached Trent Corney, who went on to be selected ninth overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the following year’s Canadian Football League Draft, and Mike Moore, a CFL import player who helped the Ottawa REDBLACKS win the 2016 Grey Cup championship.
Tenuta’s first coaching job came at Middle Creek High School in Apex, N.C. He served as defensive ends and linebackers coach in his lone season with the Mustangs as the team posted a 12-3 record and advanced to the 4AA state semifinals.
A standout football and lacrosse player at Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., Tenuta continued his football-playing career at the collegiate level. Tenuta competed as a tight end at Marshall University from 2008-10 before completing his athletic career at the University of Akron. He returned to Marshall and earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies in 2013.
