Zach Bader enters his fourth season as a coach at Slippery Rock University in 2024. Bader, an SRU alum, will once again work with the defensive line this year.
CAREER AT A GLANCE
• In 2023, Bader helped to mentor a defensive line unit that accounted for 35 TFL and nine sacks, headlined by first team All-PSAC selection Munchie Johnson, who had 12.0 tackles for loss on the year.
• As The Rock’s defensive line coach in 2022, Bader helped to mentor a unit that accounted for 56 TFL and 26.5 sacks and played a vital role for a defense which ranked 13th in the nation points allowed and 21st in rushing yards allowed.
• Two SRU defensive lineman - DJ Adediwura and Jeff Marx – earned All-PSAC West honors in 2022 with Adediwura going on to be named the Super Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.
• During his time on the sidelines, Bader has helped lead The Rock to a 31-8 overall record and three NCAA playoff berths.
COACHING TIMELINE
2020: Youngstown State (defensive assistant)
2021: Slippery Rock (volunteer defensive assistant)
2022-Present: Slippery Rock (defensive line)
CAREER PATH
• Following a standout playing career at The Rock, Bader entered the coaching profession as a defensive assistant at Division I Youngstown State University in 2020 before returning home to The Rock in 2021.
ATHLETIC CAREER
• Bader appeared in 37 games, and made 17 starts, on the defensive line for Slippery Rock from 2016-19. Slippery Rock went 39-11 during Bader’s time on the field with two NCAA playoff appearances.
• He finished his collegiate career with 74 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
PERSONAL
• Bader earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from SRU in 2019.
• He is engaged to former Slippery Rock track and field athlete Kadin Hinish and the couple have one son, Beau, who was born in 2021.
