Graduating Student-Athlete Profile: Zach Brainard

ZB: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management.

ZB: Being part of a culture change within my team and being the leader of said culture change, winning the Wildcat Award my senior year, and getting to hug coach Jason after my last race ever and hearing him say he was proud of me.

ZB: I thought that Daemen was just a volleyball and basketball school that didn’t actually care much for athletics as a whole, and now I can see that this department and the teams do care and want to try to win as much as possible despite some of our challenges.

ZB: I’ll miss the small community of people that you see everyday, who know you personally and want to see you succeed.

ZB: Being named team captain this past year.

ZB: The most influential person to me has been coach Jason. I met him when I was in a horrible place mentally and physically, and he always believed in me and pushed me to get better. He has helped me realize my potential as an athlete, but also as a human being. He never gave up on me, and I appreciate that every single day.

ZB: I will move to Kentucky in July to start a sports marketing job, then I will try to work my way up to being in the front office of an NFL team.

ZB: Nothing worth having ever comes easily. So roll out of bed, focus your thoughts, and get after it because your competition already has.