Ex-Roseburg standout Zack Mandera hired to lead Glide Wildcats football

Roseburg High School graduate Zack Mandera has been hired as the head coach of the Glide Wildcats football team.

This will be Mandera’s first job as a head coach. He broke into the coaching ranks last fall on the sidelines of his alma mater, serving as defensive coordinator for the Indians.

“The main reason I took this job is I wanted to try out my own thing,” Mandera said. “I was in college for four or five years and was under several different coordinators and saw how things were done.”

A star during his playing days at RHS, Mandera went on to play linebacker at NCAA Division I FCS Portland State University. He wants to use that experience as a college football player to give Glide football players a leg up in their development.

“I have a lot of experience from the college football world and they’ll be getting things that 18 to 21-year-olds are getting, not 14 to 18-year-olds,” Mandera said.

The 23-year-old was a finalist for the head coaching job with Roseburg football. After not getting that position, Mandera sought out other opportunities. He called the gig with the Wildcats a no-brainer.

“The kids are super happy and I think they’re really super excited for the season,” Mandera said. “Many of the parents, teachers and administrators, everybody out there was super excited to get me on board. Obviously it feels good to be wanted.”

Mandera has also accepted a job as a PE teacher at Glide High School.

The 2019 Roseburg graduate is filling his coaching staff with former classmates and teammates.

Collin Warmouth, Carson Ellis and Jace Stoffal have agreed to join Mandera on the sidelines.

“We’ll have a little bit younger coaching staff, but a lot of guys with fresh experience,” Mandera said. “We’re going to bring a lot of energy.”

Warmouth will serve as the JV head coach and main varsity assistant.

The group of coaches will be taking on plenty of new challenges, including adjusting to the 9-man football game.

“It will definitely be a little bit different, but we’ve got some guys with speed. So with fewer guys on the football field hopefully we can get the athletes the ball out in space,” Mandera said. “Hopefully we win some games this year and go back up to 3A, back up to 11-man football.”

Mandera has already been doing summer workouts with players and has plans to hold 7-on-7 competitions before camps and practices start in August.