Zack Cole, otherwise known as Coach Cole, teaches P.E. and coaches boys’ basketball. When he came to work at Santa Fe High in 2016, he wanted to stay involved in athletics because of his passion for seeing kids overcome their challenges.

Coach Cole is in his 14^th year of teaching. He has taught P.E., health, driver’s safety and AVID and was even the dean of students last year. He has also worked in higher education, at Northern New Mexico College, where he served as the assistant director of Recruitment and Career Services at and as associate head mens’ basketball coach for two years.

Originally from Española, Coach Cole earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Fort Lewis College with an emphasis in teaching and coaching. Coach Cole is currently working toward his master’s degree in health and human performance at Fort Hays State University, online.

Throughout high school and college, Coach Cole was always involved in athletics. He was Athlete of the Year at Española Valley High School in 1998, where he was a three-sport athlete participating in football, basketball and baseball. He then went on to become an All Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference basketball player in 2003 at Fort Lewis College where he was a four-year starter for the Skyhawks.

In his free time, Coach Cole enjoys being outdoors, gardening, camping, fishing and playing sports. He also enjoys watching his children participate in sports. “There are a lot of life lessons that can be learned through sports,” he said, “and I want all my players, along with my children, to learn these valuable lessons.”

He and his wife, who is also a teacher with SFPS, have four children and are passionate about education, school, and keeping their kids involved in activities. The Cole family knows that education is “an extremely valuable tool,” and they want to continue their careers in education. They have “a passion for challenging students to overcome obstacles in the classroom, on the court and in life.”