Van Zanic

The 2022 season will be Head Coach Van Zanic's 20th season as the head coach for Geneva's softball team. With a career mark of 462-316, Zanic has won more games than any other softball coach in school history.

The recently completed 2021 season proved to be one of the best in school history. Geneva finished the year 36-5 overall, finishing first in the PAC regular season standings with 16-2 conference record, the first time the Golden Tornadoes atop the PAC regular season standings. Geneva hosted the PAC Championship and won all three games to win its second PAC Championship since joining the conference.

Zanic began his coaching career at Geneva as an assistant during the years of 2000 and 2001. He served as Geneva's full-time sports information director for 15 years before taking over as athletic director in the summer of 2013.

Zanic has led the Golden Tornadoes to the post-season in 14 of his 18 years (not including the 2020 season that was cut short due to COVID-19), including five regional tournament appearances and four NCCAA national tournament stints. The Golden Tornadoes won the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship in 2012, in addition to their championship in 2021. During his tenure, 85 student-athletes have received All-Conference recognition. In addition, 78 student-athletes have received academic honors, while twelve players have been named NCCAA All-Americans.

A Geneva graduate himself, Zanic completed his studies at Geneva in 1992 with a degree in Broadcast Communications. While with the Golden Tornadoes, Zanic spent four years playing baseball. A four-year starter at Geneva, he helped guide Geneva to four consecutive post-season appearances.

Zanic started his coaching career at the high school level as an assistant at Woodland Hills High School in the mid-90's, alongside his father George Zanic. During his three years as an assistant, Woodland Hills qualified for the WPIAL play-offs in each of those seasons.

Zanic returned to his alma mater six years after graduating and has never looked back. “It has been a true blessing to be at Geneva,” said Zanic. “I am truly enjoying this opportunity to coach these young ladies every day. If anything else, they certainly keep you young.” Zanic and his wife Rebecca reside on College Hill with their two children, Zach (21) and Lexi (17).