The Waterfront Center Welcomes Coach Zach Runci to High School Sailing

We are excited to announce that Coach Zach Runci has joined The WaterFront Center’s High School Sailing coaching staff.

Coach Runci brings more than a decade of collegiate and youth coaching experience to WFC, along with a deep passion for competitive sailing and athlete development.

Most recently, Zach served as Head Sailing Coach at Fordham University after nearly ten years leading the SUNY Maritime College sailing program. During his tenure at Maritime, his teams qualified for numerous ICSA National Championships across multiple disciplines, including two Top-5 national finishes. His athletes earned All-Conference honors and dozens of Academic All-American distinctions — a testament not only to competitive excellence, but to strong leadership off the water as well.

In July 2025, after welcoming his first child, a daughter named Rory, Zach made the decision to step away from full-time collegiate coaching to focus on family and continue investing in the next generation of sailors at the high school and junior levels.

Youth sailing has always been central to Zach’s coaching career. Since 2011, he has coached with the Bellport Bay Sailing Foundation, where he currently serves as Head Race Coach. Under his leadership, Bellport junior sailors have consistently dominated the GSBYRA league, winning multiple team trophies and most recently sweeping the podium in the 2025 Grand Prix Championship Series.

A 2013 graduate of Old Dominion University, Zach competed in the ICSA for four years and helped qualify his team for four Open National Championship events. He remains an active competitor in one-design and team racing and has won multiple Grade 3 match racing regattas through Oakcliff Sailing Center.

When he’s not on the water, Zach enjoys spending time with his wife Alex, daughter Rory, and their dog Misty. He’s an avid skier, cyclist, and woodworker — and is already counting down the days until Rory steps into her first Opti.

Coach Runci’s experience at the highest levels of collegiate sailing, combined with his dedication to youth racing and athlete mentorship, makes him an incredible addition to our High School Sailing program. We are confident that his leadership will strengthen our competitive pathway and inspire our student-athletes both on and off the water.

Please join us in welcoming Coach Runci to The WaterFront Center community.

Coach Zach Runci

National-level collegiate coach and youth racing leader joins the WFC team.