University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Director of Player Personnel
- Email:
- michael.zyskowski@uconn.edu
Michael Zyskowski is entering his first season as the assistant general manager and director of on-campus recruiting for the UConn football team, after serving four years as the director of player personnel. Zyskowski arrived at UConn in February of 2017. Prior to joining the University of Connecticut he was on staff at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. He joined the ODU staff in 2008, a year before they played their first season. Zyskowski coached special teams, offensive line, and the running backs while at ODU. He also served as recruiting coordinator in 2014, when the Monarchs signed one of their best recruiting classes ever. Among ODU's signees in 2014 was Ray Lawry, who was recruited by Zyskowski and was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2014.
Zyskowski joined the ODU coaching staff after spending the previous four seasons at the University of Maine where he coached the running backs and served as the Co-Special Team's Coordinator in 2007.
In his final season at Maine in 2007, Zyskowski guided the school's eighth 1,000-yard running back in Jhamal Fluellen to all-conference honors after finishing in the top six in both rushing and all-purpose yardage. A year earlier in 2006 he helped mentor tailback Arel Gordon, who earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors after ranking seventh in the league in rushing and second in all-purpose yards per game. As a team, the Black Bears finished 33rd nationally out of 119 teams in the FCS in rushing yards per game at 169.6.
In 2005, Zyskowski tutored Montell Owens who was entering his first season as a starter at tailback. Owens became a durable runner for the Black Bears who finished the season with 779 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Owens finished the season ninth in the Atlantic 10 in rushing yards per game and tied for third in rushing touchdowns. In 2006, Owens signed as a rookie free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars and became a two-time Pro-Bowl Selection player and was voted team captain.
In addition to coaching football, Zyskowski also gained important experience in the spring of 2005 as he served as a student-assistant coach for the UMaine baseball team, which won the America East Tournament championship, and qualified for the Oxford Regional in the NCAA Tournament. Zyskowski's younger brother, Josh, was a pitcher on the squad.
Zyskowski, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan started his playing career at Grand Rapids Community College before transferring to Maine in 2001. He was named captain as a senior and played fullback for the University of Maine. He helped lead the way for running back Marcus Williams to rush for 1,284 yards during the 2003 season, and eventually into first place in school history for career rushing yards.
Zyskowski earned his bachelor’s degree in landscape horticulture from Maine in 2006. He has a daughter Marley, and two sons Brandon and Luke.
