New Strength Coach Marhamo
By ARYAN ARWAL, WILLIAM INOUE, ELLINA KIM, and RAY LI
On a normal day in the Downer Fitness Center, one will find an array of things and people, from students working on their fitness to athletic teams running lifts. It is a place where all types of people on Exeter’s campus can get in a workout. Recently, “Coach” Zacharia Marhamo, has joined as a very special addition to Exeter’s strength and conditioning program.
Marhamo came to Exeter this past summer after his role as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Warriors of Merrimack College. His experience in the field includes an undergraduate degree in physical education from Bridgewater State University, a master’s degree in exercise and sports science from Merrimack College, and time as a strength and conditioning coach at Colby College, UMass Boston, Stonehill College, and Texas Tech University.
When asked about his daily schedule, he said, “day to day my responsibility includes coaching off-season and in-season student athletes and creating training programs. I am also responsible for the upkeep of the Downer Fitness Center.”
From his previous academic record as well as teaching records, he brings in a few goals. Marhamo stated, “At Exeter I hope to have a positive impact on all student athletes in regard to teaching proper technique as well as living a healthy and active lifestyle. My personal mission statement is to provide a safe and healthy environment where student athletes can maximize their athletic potential, as well as instill important life values such as character, discipline, and communication.”
From the athletes, he truly hopes that he can see growth as well as development in character while working with him. He continued, “As a strength and conditioning coach, I have three main goals with all my programs: mitigate the risk of injury, increase confidence and improve performance. Strength and conditioning is important to build a robust and durable athletic base to help maximize your talents on whichever field of play you compete on. As athletes see improvements in their physical capabilities, it can boost their self-esteem and confidence in their abilities. Whether you are an athlete or student, learning the fundamentals of exercise technique fosters a culture of fitness, helping students develop lifelong healthy habits.”
Coach Sampson, the Head Coach of the Strength and Conditioning Department, expressed her opinion about the impact of Marhamo. She stated, “Coach Z has been a great addition to our staff here in Strength & Conditioning. He’s a great problem solver and has brought a lot of creativity to our staff in the short time he’s been here. It’s been really nice having fresh eyes in our department. He has a lot of quality stops on his resume, which has allowed him to have an immediate impact on programming and coaching our student-athletes right away. Coach Z is a natural relationship-builder – he’s put time and effort into getting to know the students and has been able to create a positive experience for them from day 1.”
She further praised Marhamo by stating the qualities that could make him an example for all of us. Sampson said, “Coach Z sets a strong example for other strength coaches and the entire athletics department through his excellent organization and innovative approach. He is constantly asking questions and learning about his new environment, so that he can maximize efficiency within his programming and coaching. This mindset is a great reminder to think outside the box and continuously push the needle forward.”
Sampson added, “We hope to build out additional programming within our department that reaches to the entire campus. Our goal is efficiency – we want to continue to develop a system that is dynamic, effective, and leaves a positive impact on our population. Overall, Coach Z’s contributions have laid a strong foundation for future success, holding our standard for performance and collaboration within the program.”
Owen Safford, a prep on the boys junior varsity soccer team, said “I like his energy, he pumps you up. He’s good at coaching you on things you can do better in your workouts and helps you be a better athlete.”
Prep Rich Byun, also on the boys junior varsity soccer team added, “Coach Marhamo encourages friendly competition to make our sessions a lot more fun. When Seneca and Max[two JV soccer athletes] challenged each other to a race, he let it happen and hyped it up. Other coaches would ignore it, but he’s more willing to do that to make our workouts more of a bonding session.”
Overall, Coach Marhamo has been a critical addition to our athletics department, with positive reviews from both returning coaches and new athletes. His expertise seems to already be making an impact on athlete performance and health, growth which he and his colleagues will hope to continue throughout the season.
