Nazareth College Athletics

Zachary Ferrara was named the Niagara region assistant coach of the year in 2024 coaching pole vault with the Nazareth track and field team. Ferrara joined the Nazareth coaching staff in August 2019 after volunteer coaching with The College at Brockport track and field program and a few local Section V high schools (Spencerport, Kendall, and Brockport). 
 
Ferrara has evolved the Nazareth University pole vault program to become recognized nationally, leading the Nazareth pole vaulters to two NCAA Championships. Isabel Morse placed 12^th at the Indoor National Championship hosted at Nazareth in 2025 earning second team All-America honors. Rosie Morse placed 17^th at the Outdoor National Championship in 2024.
 
Under Ferrara’s guidance, Nazareth has crowned seven Empire 8 Conference champions in the women’s pole vault program, Isabel Morse x4 (2023 indoor and outdoor, 2024 Indoor, and 2025 Outdoor), Rosie Morse x1 (2024 Outdoor), and Anna Ahlquist x2 (2022 Indoor and Outdoor).  On the men's side, two Empire 8 Conference champions have been crowned in Jason Bletsko (2023 Indoor), and Joshua Pomerlea (2023 Outdoor). Ferrara also assisted in coaching four multi-event conference champions, Jack Pomykaj (2024 Indoor and Outdoor Champion) and Aaron Lund (2023 Indoor and Outdoor Champion). 
 
Nazareth pole vault has sent 10 pole vaulters to multiple AARTF regional competitions since 2020. The list includes Anna Ahlquist x2, Rosie Morse x4, Isabel Morse x5, Kiara Tornusciolo x3, Madison Bush x1, Joshua Pomerleau x3, Jason Bletsko x3, Jack Pomykaj x3, Will D’Agata x1, and Bryce Florian x2. 
 
Since Ferrara took over as pole vault coach, all of the Nazareth pole vault records have been broken. Currently, Isabel Morse holds the women’s indoor school record at 3.87m, Rosie Morse holds the outdoor women’s school record at 3.73m. Will D’Agata holds the men’s indoor school record at 4.47m, and Joshua Pomerleau holds the outdoor school record at 4.55m. 
 
Currently, Ferrara is a Health Project Coordinator and Exercise Specialist with the University of Rochester. Zachary coordinates a novel physical education program through the Center of Human Muskuloskeletal Performance and Prevention (CHAMPP), in the City of Rochester. The CHAMPP program positively impacts students and student athletes in public, private, and parochial school districts. Accompanying his role with the UR, Ferrara programs strength and condition for the athletes on the Nazareth track and field team. 
 
Ferrara himself is an 18’ (5.49m) pole vaulter born in Rochester, NY. Currently, he competes as a professional pole vaulter for the Garden State Track and Field Club, located in New Jersey, NY. 
 
As a collegiate athlete, Ferrara was named the 2013 Male Athlete of the Year at Brockport after winning the 2013 Indoor NCAA Division III Championship in the pole vault. A walk-on athlete at Brockport, Ferrara become a three time All-American and three-time SUNYAC champion. His academic awards include the Outstanding Graduate Student award at Brockport and the 2013 USTFCCCA Indoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. Ferrara was inducted into The College at Brockport Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. 
 
 




The 2013 graduate of The College at Brockport earned a degree in Physical Education and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Physical Education also from Brockport.

He was the 2013 Male Athlete of the Year at Brockport after winning the NCAA title in the pole vault at the 2013 Indoor Track and Field Championships. The school record holder in the pole vault earned three All-American awards and was a three-time SUNYAC champion.

Ferrara was a graduate assistant coach at Brockport before coaching at the Spencerport, Kendall and Brockport school districts. In addition, he has helped coordinate the Brockport Pole Vault clinic since 2014.

Ferrara teaches physical education at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School in Rochester and is the coordinator of the Healthy Hero Cap at Monroe Community College.