Travis Zajac

Travis Zajac was born and raised in northeastern Wisconsin, graduating from Southern Door High School in 1997. He spent four years at Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, where he studied education and was a four-year letter winner, two-year starter, and All-American linebacker as a senior, playing for head coach Vince Brautigam. In 2001, Brautigam became the head football coach at the University of Dubuque and Zajac followed him to begin his coaching career. Zajac served as a student assistant, graduate assistant, and full-time assistant coach at the University of Dubuque from 2001-2008. Zajac coached inside linebackers, offensive line, and special teams during these years at the University of Dubuque.

        Zajac moved to the high school coaching ranks in the 2009 and 2010 seasons, serving as an assistant coach at Wahlert Catholic High School. He served as linebackers and offensive line coach in 2009 and then varsity defensive coordinator in the 2010 season. The next two seasons, 2011 and 2012, Zajac went back to serve as a volunteer running backs coach at the University of Dubuque under head coach Stan Zweifel. This two-year return to the college ranks allowed him to be part of the first Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship team at the University of Dubuque in over three decades.

        Zajac was named varsity head football coach at Wahlert Catholic High School in 2013. He led the Golden Eagles for six seasons, qualifying for the postseason in 2014 and 2015. This was Wahlert’s first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1996-97. Zajac also led Wahlert to back-to-back winning seasons in 2016 and 2017. Wahlert had not had back-to-back winning seasons since the 2001-02 seasons. A highlight of his time at Wahlert was serving as an assistant coach, under Greg Thomas, for the North Squad in the 2017 Shrine Bowl. In his six seasons leading the Golden Eagles, Zajac coached 54 all-district athletes, 70 academic all-district players, one district MVP, six academic all-state players, and finished with an 18-38 record.

        In 2019, Zajac moved west to Grundy Center. Under Zajac’s leadership, the Spartans have played in six consecutive state championship games, finishing as Class A runners-up in 2019, 2020, and 2021. They have won three consecutive state championships in 2022 (Class A), 2023, and 2024 (Class 1A). In his six seasons leading the Spartans, Zajac’s teams have garnered numerous individual and team accolades. They have won five consecutive district championships. The Grundy Center Spartans were chosen as the 2023 recipient of the Hatchell Cup, recognizing the Spartans as the top high school football team in the nation for excellence in the classroom, on the field, and in the community (Press Release).  

During his six seasons at Grundy Center, Zajac has coached 78 all-district players, 119 academic all-district players, 14 district MVPs, 61 all-state players, and 23 academic all-state players. Zajac was named the 2020 Class A State Coach of the Year. He was named IFCA Class A, Region 2 Coach of the Year in 2019, 2021, and 2022, and IFCA Class 1A, Region 2 Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2024. He has been named district coach of the year five times. Zajac’s record at Grundy Center is 72-5 and his overall record in 12 seasons as a head coach is 90-43.

        Zajac and his wife, Shannon, have been married for 19 years. They have two children; Lauren (age 16) and Ty (age 14).