About Zach
Zach Ferrenburg’s journey into human performance didn’t start in a lab or a gym. It started on the field. Growing up playing football and lacrosse, he loved competition, camaraderie, and the thrill of pushing his body to its limits. Like many athletes, he experienced injuries along the way, which initially led him to consider a career in physical therapy. But it was while coaching high school lacrosse during his undergraduate years that Zach discovered something unexpected: his true passion wasn’t fixing injuries. It was helping athletes become stronger, faster, and more resilient before setbacks ever occurred.
This realization set the course for his career. Zach embraced a holistic approach to human performance, combining training, recovery, and nutrition into programs that develop both the body and the mind. He loves the challenge of taking an under-the-radar athlete and helping them reach their full potential, using a mix of evidence-based methods, individualized coaching, and data-driven insights.
Zach earned his BS in Kinesiology with a major in Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching from Indiana University – Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI), then went on to complete an MS in Applied Sports Science Analytics from Lasell University. His education gave him the tools to merge real-world coaching with rigorous analysis, turning performance data into actionable strategies that lead to measurable results.
His career has spanned diverse environments. From working with international and national-level weightlifters to supporting the Arizona Diamondbacks’ athletic performance programs, and interning with the University of Louisville, Zach has seen firsthand what elite performance looks like. At the same time, he has dedicated himself to building programs for communities, including training firefighters for over two years, emphasizing both performance and long-term health.
In high school sports, Zach has led strength and conditioning programs at Austin High School and Shelbyville High School in Indiana. At Shelbyville, he not only managed programs for 24 varsity sports but also founded a Sports Performance Club to connect student-athletes with professionals in kinesiology. Using tools like timing gates, load cells, and GymAware units, Zach collected thousands of data points to guide training decisions and track meaningful progress across his athletes.
Today, Zach serves as a Human Performance Coach with the 1st Army at Camp Atterbury, supporting soldiers in the 157th Brigade, 1st Army East Division. He develops comprehensive programs that integrate strength, endurance, recovery, and nutrition, collaborating with command staff, medical personnel, and support teams to optimize readiness, resilience, and long-term health.
Philosophy
Zach believes that optimizing human performance requires both art and science. Metrics, data, and analytics are essential, but they are only valuable when paired with individualized, holistic programming that prioritizes strength, speed, agility, recovery, and overall well-being. For him, performance isn’t just about numbers. It’s about building confidence, resilience, and lifelong habits that empower individuals to thrive on and off the field.
Key Certifications & Achievements
Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) – NSCA, 01/25
Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) – NSCA, 12/23
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) – NSCA, 01/21
Level 1 Nutrition Coach (Pn1) – Precision Nutrition, 12/21
Level 1 Coach (USAW1) – USA Weightlifting, 07/20
High School Strength & Conditioning Coach (HSSCC) – NHSSCA, 07/23
MLB SABR Analytics Conference Attendee – 03/25
Through every athlete, firefighter, or soldier he trains, Zach’s mission remains the same: empowering individuals to reach their full potential by combining science, data, and holistic performance strategies with personalized coaching and mentorship