Football
Sam Zanders Jr.
- Title:
- Assistant S&C Coach, Football
Sam Zanders Jr. serves as an assistant strength & conditioning coach for the Georgia Southern football program, a post he assumed in the spring of 2022. In his current role, Zanders Jr. assists in the day-to-day operations of the Eagles' football program, warm-ups, strength and speed/agility training, conditioning, athlete evaluations, sports science data collection, set up and break down of the weight room, and maintenance of the facility.
Zanders Jr. came to Statesboro after serving as the head strength coach at Wesleyan College from 2018-2021 and then was an assistant volunteer at Mercer in the spring of 2021. In 2019 at Wesleyan, both the women's soccer and cross country teams advanced to the USA South conference championship playoff series. He was also the director of athletic development and performance at the Academy for Classical Education. While there, he helped train teams the won multiple state championships across the board. He also served as the interim head football coach in 2021, helping lead them their first state playoff appearance in program history. He also served as the head track & field coach from 2018-19, helping lead the team to its first state finals appearance and multiple medals.
During his time as an Olympic weightlifting coach, he trained several national-caliber athletes who qualified for the USA Olympic Weightlifting Nationals. He continues to be mentored by Conor Hughes, the head strength coach at Army West Point, as well as Dr. Bob LeFavi, the former chair of the Georgia Southern Health and Sciences Department.
He also participated in the Philadelphia Eagles' professional development program in the diversity development series where he was selected from hundreds of applicants for a networking opporunity with the front office executives.
Zanders Jr. graduated from Mercer University with a degree in psychology and a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. He would go on an Master's degree in exercise science and health promotion with a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention, as well as a Post-Masters (Grad) in rehabilitation science from California University of Pennsylvania. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in health and human performance from Concordia University Chicago. He authored a peer-reviewed article that was published by the National Strength & Conditioning Association and was co-authored bt Dr. Bridget Melton of the Georgia Southern College of Exercise Science and Coaching Education.
Additionally, Zanders Jr. holds the following certifications:
Zanders Jr. came to Statesboro after serving as the head strength coach at Wesleyan College from 2018-2021 and then was an assistant volunteer at Mercer in the spring of 2021. In 2019 at Wesleyan, both the women's soccer and cross country teams advanced to the USA South conference championship playoff series. He was also the director of athletic development and performance at the Academy for Classical Education. While there, he helped train teams the won multiple state championships across the board. He also served as the interim head football coach in 2021, helping lead them their first state playoff appearance in program history. He also served as the head track & field coach from 2018-19, helping lead the team to its first state finals appearance and multiple medals.
During his time as an Olympic weightlifting coach, he trained several national-caliber athletes who qualified for the USA Olympic Weightlifting Nationals. He continues to be mentored by Conor Hughes, the head strength coach at Army West Point, as well as Dr. Bob LeFavi, the former chair of the Georgia Southern Health and Sciences Department.
He also participated in the Philadelphia Eagles' professional development program in the diversity development series where he was selected from hundreds of applicants for a networking opporunity with the front office executives.
Zanders Jr. graduated from Mercer University with a degree in psychology and a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. He would go on an Master's degree in exercise science and health promotion with a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention, as well as a Post-Masters (Grad) in rehabilitation science from California University of Pennsylvania. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in health and human performance from Concordia University Chicago. He authored a peer-reviewed article that was published by the National Strength & Conditioning Association and was co-authored bt Dr. Bridget Melton of the Georgia Southern College of Exercise Science and Coaching Education.
Additionally, Zanders Jr. holds the following certifications:
- National Academy of Sports Medicine: Performance Enhancement Specialist; Corrective Exercise Specialist
- USA Weightlifting: Weightlifting & Sports Performance Coach Level 1; Program Design
- National Sports Performance Association: Certified Program Design Specialist; Certified Speed and Agility Coach; Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach; Certified Sports Nutrition Coach
- National Association of Speed and Explosion: Certified Speed Specialist; State Director
- National Strength & Conditioning Association: Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- Functional Range Systems: Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialists
Clay Helton Media Availability: National Signing Day (12/3/25)
Wednesday, December 03
Georgia Southern vs. Marshall Highlights (11/29/25)
Sunday, November 30
Hail Southern Live! (11-24-2025)
Tuesday, November 25
The GATA Zone: Men's Soccer Post-Season
Thursday, November 20
