On the Field, In the Family: Rosecrans and the Zembas

ZANESVILLE, OH – Football just runs in the family. Over his four years with the Bishops, Rosecrans star Brody Zemba always got a kick out of playing for his head coach, his dad.

“I’d say it’s been awesome” says Zemba. “I remember in middle school, he came into my room when he was offered the position, and he actually asked me first whether he wanted me for him to do it, because he knew I’d be playing football in high school.”

Zemba added he didn’t know what it would be like to play for his dad, but that it’s been awesome.”

His father, Chris, took over head coaching duties in 2020, and has taken to the Bishops as his family, though it’s a little different when Brody is among them.

“I would say all these players are my sons, but of course it’s extra special when it is your son” says the Bishops’ head coach.

As it turns out, it’s pretty easy coaching your own son.

“It’s pretty easy to be honest with you. I don’t have to tell him to work hard, I don’t have to tell him to get up and go to the weight room. That makes it nice, you don’t have to try to push your own son to do that.”

Like many coaches who see their sons play the game they love, it’s become simple to separate coach from dad. “Honestly, when we’re home, we don’t talk football. There’s a time allotted for that. When we get home, it’s not football time, it’s family time” says Chris.

Dad also doesn’t want to miss a play whenever one is drawn up for Brody.

“When I know that, maybe he’s getting the ball in a certain play, I tend to position myself on the field where I can get a front row seat to that. I try to take that snapshot in my brain. I’ve coached him 13 years, since he was in kindergarten, so I’m trying to soak it all in this year definitely.”

Both coach and player, father and son, the Zemba have built quite the legacy at Rosecrans.