Today we’d like to introduce you to Darwin Zook
Hi Darwin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Sports has been a huge part of my life since I was 4 years old, shooting baskets into a bucket on a window sill in the small town of Kiebingen, Germany. One of my first sports memories was watching the Celtics defeat the Rockets in the 1986 NBA finals when I was 6 years old. We were still overseas at the time, so the game was on at 2am and my parents let me stay up! Teamwork, being part of a group that is bigger than yourself and the intense competition always drew me to sports from a young age. I’ve had plenty of disappointments in sports from difficult losses, to coaches that sometimes didn’t seem to care and be in the battle with us as players. I was also fortunate enough to have amazing coaches throughout my life, as well as my parents, that instilled toughness as well as an attitude that focused on, “Give everything you have and then let the outcome be what it is.” I was fortunate enough to play high school basketball with close friends north of Boston, that are still like brothers to this day. Being able to then play 3 years of college basketball at UC Santa Cruz was an absolute dream, but something I really had to work for. That process and that journey was so rewarding. I’ve been able to keep dual careers going throughout my life. Being able to broadcast games for ESPN, work as a sports anchor for CBS Sports and Sirius Radio, to go along with my coaching career has been an amazing experience. I’ve always felt whether in broadcasting or working as a Location Manager on movie sets and especially in Coaching; you are only as productive and successful as the team you are working with. Having the opportunity to play two seasons of semi-pro football in Boston also reignited by desire to continue teaching young players in sports about a “team first” mentality. This team first idea is not new, but it certainly transcends to all aspects of life, including how to fit in better with the planet and our natural surroundings. I have so greatly enjoyed my move from NYC to Jacksonville, working the past 2 years as Director and Coach at WGV Above Basketball Academy in St. Augustine. Thanks to legendary Coach Jim Martin, I was welcomed into the Above Basketball family here in north Florida and have had an amazing time working with unbelievable, talented coaches. The group of coaches we have at Above WGV basketball, headlined by Deion Johnson and Milon Sheffield have a great chemistry and team first mentality that we talk about all the time with our young players as well as the parents. Basketball is the ultimate team sport and I’m lucky enough to work with an incredible group of coaches at WGV. I was fortunate enough to learn under Dr. John McCarthy in the Boston University Coaching Education Masters Program. Combining different teaching and leadership techniques with my experiences as a player was invaluable for me as a head high school coach in Massachusetts and later as a College assistant coach. Working with so many different players and coaches has been awesome and I feel it has led me to this point as Director at Above WGV Basketball. In the past, I’ve been accountable for one team whether in high school or college..now there are 12 teams we are responsible for. This can be challenging at times but also extremely gratifying, seeing young people work hard and want to improve.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Leaving behind a growing broadcasting career at Fordham University was difficult when I was 20 years old. I knew I was at least temporarily leaving behind good career opportunities at a young age, to simply train and work to make a D3 basketball team at UC Santa Cruz. I transferred and the decision wasn’t easy, but I’m very glad I took that leap and was able to play 3 seasons of college basketball, my final two as a Captain. It continued a long journey in basketball for me and eventually into a coaching career. Being responsible now for over 200 kids in our program at Above WGV as well as working with hundreds of parents, has its obvious challenges at times, but I’m very proud of all our young players and their willingness and commitment to grown and learn. I’ve also really enjoyed the open communication all the coaches have with the parents as well, to help make the basketball team experience as enriching as possible for the kids. I’ve learned to accept that sometimes you cannot please everyone and that’s ok. Just as I learned as a player, we do the very best we can and let the outcome be what it is.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think being part of something larger than yourself can be extremely rewarding. In sports and in coaching in general, being part of a family culture, where everyone has a role in the journey is an amazing feeling. In broadcasting, I’ve always been able to relay what I am seeing from the playing field to the microphone. Coaching in many ways is even more rewarding though because I still feel like I am in the action. I try and stay true to my values and coaching beliefs, while still being versatile enough to connect and work with others who have different approaches. Separate from sports, being connected to nature for me has always been a big part of my life. The connectedness we often seek doesn’t always have to be with other people. Connecting to the natural world around us has always been something that brings me great peace. There is nothing I enjoy more in the world than floating in ocean waves, looking at the clouds. We are only blips on the radar of time and I’m proud to feel connected to the Earth.
What were you like growing up?
I was always super competitive from a young age, even with my dad. I think at times he would just let me win when we played basketball one on one on that window sill in Kiebingen, Germany. My dad didn’t care as much about winning, but rather just making sure I had a fun time. My mom is where my competitive streak really came from! I don’t have siblings, so I learned how to be independent at a young age, especially traveling in other countries. I’ve always been someone who seeks out close friendships with a few people, rather than large groups or knowing a lot of people. My closest friends are still my buddies from thirty years ago in high school and from coaching college basketball in my 20’s. Anywhere I travel, I always seek out the ocean. I could never live too far from the beach. The peace and vibe..being part of nature is a special feeling that I always cherish.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abovebasketball.com
- Instagram: abovebasketballwgv
- Other: https://www.darwinzook.com
