While the NFL regular season was completed last Sunday without missing a game, high school and college football programs were not as fortunate.
Some seasons were shortened, others were canceled and some state federations shifted their 2020 fall sports to this spring because of the pandemic.
Despite the obstacles, thirty-year-old NFL alum Zach Line (pictured above) started his high school coaching career in 2020 after retiring as a player only a year earlier.
“I decided that I should take advantage of the knowledge that I had gained in college and the NFL and pass it on to the kids,” says Line, who in 2020 became head coach at his alma mater Oxford (Mich.) High School near Detroit.
“I always thought that I at some point would get into coaching. Obviously, being in my hometown makes it even sweeter. It was a crazy first season because of COVID-19. We didn’t have a training camp or spring ball, and we were installing our offense and defense over Zoom. We had some tough losses but I was proud of the team. We’re in a tough division.”
Line gained 1,200 yards during three straight seasons at SMU but was not selected in the 2013 Draft. He signed as a rookie free agent with the Vikings and was switched to fullback. Line played four seasons (2013-16) in Minnesota. He then signed with the Saints for three additional years (2017-19) before announcing his retirement. His toughness and special teams play made him one of Saints Coach Sean Payton’s favorites.
“Zach had the football makeup and IQ for coaching,” Payton said recently. “I am excited that’s he’s getting the experience and the gray hairs and stress that he’s seen us experience as coaches here.”
We at NFL Alumni congratulate Zach Line for making a quick transition after his playing days. He is mentoring his young athletes in Michigan and grooming them to be the next generation of players –and men–in his home state.
We also salute all our members who are coaching on the youth, high school, and college levels. Thank you for being so dedicated to our great sport.
