AUGUST 18, 2016 BY MAUREEN ZAMBITO
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Aug. 18, 2016 — West Liberty University assistant football coach and alumnus Zach Amedro was recently inducted into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) Hall of Fame, sponsored by Robinson Automotive Group. The annual induction ceremony was held at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling on Saturday, Aug. 13.
“It was an incredible honor and blessing to be inducted into the OVAC Hall of Fame. It gave me a chance to really pause and appreciate the tremendous support I’ve always received from my family, my coaches and my teammates. They’ve all had a part in this and I’m extremely grateful,” Amedro said.
A two-time NCAA Division II All-American and a finalist for the 2009 and 2010 Harlon Hill National Player of the Year Awards, Amedro is now in his third season on the Hilltopper coaching staff. The second-leading passer in NCAA Division II history whose 14 consecutive 300-yard passing games and 14 straight 300-yard total offense games still stand as all-time NCAA Division II records, Amedro was brought on board as the Hilltoppers’ first quarterbacks coach and is also sharing special teams responsibilities with safeties coach Angel Estrada this season.
The record-setting signalcaller passed for a then-NCAA Division II record 14,733 yards during his four seasons (2007-10) at West Liberty. The Hilltoppers led the nation in scoring and total offense in 2009 and 2010 – the only NCAA Division II team ever to do so in back-to-back seasons.
West Liberty won a WVIAC championship in 2009 and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in school history. With Amedro at the helm, the Hilltoppers made it all the way to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals and finished the season ranked No. 9 in the AFCA national Top 25.
A native of Moundsville, W.Va., Amedro enjoyed a record-setting high school career at John Marshall High School. The three-year starter completed 426-of-761 passes for more than 6,000 yards and 53 touchdowns. A first-team All-State selection, he finished fourth in the state-wide Kennedy Award balloting as a senior and was named captain of The Intelligencer’s All-Valley “Big School” Team.
Zach and his wife, Jonni Jo, reside in Wheeling.
