University of the Incarnate Word Athletics

Jake Zweig is entering his second year with the Cardinals coaching staff working with special teams and outside linebackers.  The former Navy SEAL has brought the standards of excellence in training, toughness, focus and teamwork to the Cardinals.

Check out Zweig's bio page for his reality TV show on the Discovery Channel
    
Zweig was hired by Larry Kennan, his long time mentor, in January of 2012.  In his first season the punting unit had 17 of 58 punts end up inside the 20-yard line.  In addition, regular punter Emmanuel Nunez finished seventh in the nation with a 42.8 yard average.  In the kick return game, Marcus Wright had the first kick return for a touchdown in school history and Juan Asencio averaged a school-record 28.1 yards per return.
    
Prior to joining the staff of the Cardinals, Zweig was a defensive assistant at Bryant University in 2011.  Before starting at Bryant he participated in the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy which led to his receiving an NFL Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship with the Oakland Raiders.
    
He took a brief hiatus from football in the summer of 2011 when he accepted the History Channel’s invitation to compete in the television show, “Top Shot.”  In 2013, he spent time on Animal Planet's  reality television show "Catch and Release."
    
Zweig’s previous coaching experience include assignments as the defensive line and special teams coach at the University of New Hampshire.  He boosted the New Hampshire defense to 21st in the nation in sacks, up from 109th the previous year, with two defensive players earning All-League status under his tutelage.  In addition to his success on the field, he earned appointments to the University President’s Commission on the Status of Disabled People, the President’s Commission on the Status of People of Color and the NCAA’s Football Coaches Academy Class of 2009.
     
Zweig’s arrival to the New Hampshire staff followed one successful season as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Iona College and prior to Iona, he spent two seasons as the defensive line and special teams coach at the Catholic University of America.  While at Catholic, his special teams earned top conference honors in both touchdowns scored and punt return yards.
     
Zweig began his coaching career in 2005 when he joined the University of Maryland staff as a graduate assistant working with the Terrapin wide receivers.  A life-long athlete and team leader, he returned to college athletics following a successful career in the U.S. Navy.  He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 as a commissioned officer.  He served as a surface warfare officer for two years onboard the U.S.S. Merrimack before reporting for Navy SEAL training at Basic Underwater Demolition School.  He was able to mentor other trainees through the program and was named the SEAL class leader.  Following his SEAL training, he reported to SEAL Team 8 in Little Creek, VA and attained the rank of Lieutenant.
     
Zweig has earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the U.S. Naval Academy.  His athletic record at the Naval Academy includes playing nose guard for George Chaump, varsity wrestling, and an intensive swimming routine in preparation to be a Navy diver.
     
A native of Steilacoom, Washington, he attended the Charles Wright Academy of Tacoma where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the 1989 State runner-up football team.  He was also a State “A” wrestling champion and a member of the varsity golf team.  He is married to the former Sarah Claud of Stony Creek, Virginia.
     
Zweig and his wife Sarah have a son, Zembiec.