One of the most recognizable and respected members of the John Carroll football coaching staff will be exchanging his blue and gold colors for UT Orange this fall.
 
Tommy Zagorski, who recently completed his eighth season with the Blue Streaks, has accepted a position with the University of Tennessee football program. Zagorski has been hired by the Volunteers to be the Offensive Quality Control coach for the 2015 campaign.
 
"We are so proud of Tommy and incredibly grateful for his service to the John Carroll community and our football program over the last eight years," said JCU football head coach Tom Arth. " We wish him all the best in his future at the University of Tennessee."
 
In the summer of 2008, Zagorski joined the John Carroll program as a graduate assistant. He worked with the offensive line and tight ends, while being heavily involved in the recruiting process.
 
Zagorski became full time in 2010 as the offensive line coach and special teams coordinator, and in 2013 was elevated to offensive coordinator.

During his time with the Blue Streaks, Zagorski had seven lineman named All-Conference, three tabbed All-North Region and two earn All-America status. From 2010-14, JCU's linemen have allowed only 46 sacks in the last 54 games.

Under Zagorski's guidance in 2014, the Blue Streaks were ranked in the top 20 nationally in categories such as total offense (18th), passing offense (14th) and fewest sacks allowed (12th). He had two offensive linemen earn all.-conference accolades, and junior Anthony Lattina was selected as a d3football.com second team All-America.
 
John Carroll reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Championship and finished the campaign with a record of 11-2.

Zagorski's charges had a productive 2013 season as well. Kicker Kresimir Ivkovic was named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award given to the best non-FBS kicker. Additionally, Ivkovic garnered All-America honors. Zagorski's offensive line earned D3football.com Team of the Week Presented by Scoutware honors for their performance in JCU's win over nationally-ranked Heidelberg. The Blue Streak offense ranked 14th with 312.6 passing yards per game in 2013. Additionally, JCU was a top 15 scoring offense and ranked in the top 30 in all of Division III in total offense.

The 2012 season saw Zagorski tutor an offensive line which only allowed seven sacks the entire season.

In 2011, Zagorski tutored Devin Martin, who would go on to earn D3football.com honorable mention All-American status.

Zagorski also serves as the football program's Director of Community Outreach, Academic Coordinator, and SAAC moderator. He has also worked as a Professor for FYS students. In his role as academic coordinator, Zagorski played a large role in improving the team GPA as a program best 66 players finished with at least a 3.0 GPA in the 2014 fall semester. As director of community outreach, promoting a wide variety of service initiatives for our players to become involved with helping them to accumulate over 1300 hours of service per year. 
 
 "As talented of a coach as Tommy is, he's an even better person," said Arth. "We are blessed to be at a school like John Carroll where he was able share his values and beliefs with our team – I know they will be better men for it."
 
Prior to his time as a graduate assistant, Zagorski worked at Benedictine High School as Director of Alumni Relations and Throws coach for the Bengal Track program.

As a player, he was instrumental in leading Case Western Reserve University to its best football season in school history (11-1, round of 16 in NCAA Division III playoffs) as a senior in 2007. A four-year letterwinner and four-time team captain, he was an All-University Athletic Association offensive lineman 2003, 2004 and 2007.

Zagorski also was a d3football.com All-Region selection and earned the Cleveland Touchdown Club's John Peyton Memorial MVP Award. He graduated from CWRU in the Fall of 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Zagorski attended Benedictine High School and twice won the school's prestigious Joe Rufus Spirit Award. He helped the Bengals to a Regional Championship and State Runner-up finish his senior year while earning All-County, All-District and All-State honors as a team captain. He was the recipient of Mr. Benedictine, which is the highest honor any student can receive at the school.

Zagorski, who earned his Master's Degree in School Counseling from John Carroll in 2011, is the latest member of the John Carroll staff to land either an NFL or Division I coaching position.
 
In the last three years alone, Jerry Schuplinski was hired by the New England Patriots, Brandon Staley by James Madison University, Chris Shula by the San Diego Chargers, and Jonathan Cooley by the University of Kentucky.
 
 "We want our coaches to have opportunities to advance their careers, and sure it can present challenges for us, but it is an incredible complement to the success we have had within our program, our school, and most importantly to the quality of the individuals who we have had the opportunity to coach with," said Arth.