About Coach Zac
Dr. Zac Hojnacki (Coach Zac) attained a Masters and PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona, where he focused his research on performance under pressure; specifically mindfulness and anxiety management strategies. With this knowledge, he has provided mental performance education to youth and collegiate athletes and teams since 2016. He is currently a mental performance consultant at Performance Optimal Health based out of Greenwich, CT.
Coach Zac started his athletic journey as a competitive swimmer, achieving multiple individual Top 10 age group national rankings and Arizona state titles and records. He competed at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and 2013 World Championship Trials, and swam collegiately for the University of Arizona swimming program that twice finished top 3 at the Division I NCAA championships (2010, 2012).
Coach Zac has over 10 years of experience working with elite athletes as a competitive swim coach as well, first as the Head Age Group Coach for the historic Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics program — where he oversaw a highly successful age group program and volunteered with the University of Arizona swim program — and then as the Head Coach of the BGNW Marlins swim team in Mount Kisco, NY. At the helm of the Marlins, he developed multiple National qualifiers and Junior National finalists, and the program won the Boys & Girls Club National Championship all six years he was at the helm. Coach Zac was awarded the Metropolitan Swimming Senior Coach of the Year in 2023. He also served in a volunteer role as the Senior Chair on the Metropolitan Swimming Board of Directors from 2020-2024 and is currently the Coaches Representative for Metropolitan Swimming.
Zac currently teaches Child and Adolescent Psychology at Iona University in New Rochelle, NY as an adjunct professor. In his free time, Zac enjoys leading an active lifestyle. He is an avid runner, rock climber and triathlete. In 2022, Zac completed his first full Ironman at Ironman California in 14 hours!
My vision
We are faced with performance demands in various aspects of our lives on a near constant basis. I aspire to help others to learn strategies to confidently face these demands and feel they are able to consistently perform their best. I also prioritize aiding people in finding a sense of joy and gratitude in the midst of high pressure situations. Too often athletes experience fear and dread when facing competitive challenges - I help my clients find the fun in competition, and most importantly feel satisfaction and pride when they compete, regardless of the outcome.
I made the conscious decision to dedicate a significant portion of my early years coaching and teaching at all levels to better understand the unique needs and performance demands facing today’s athletes, parents and coaches. My strategies and guiding principles are derived from many years spent “in the weeds” of the youth sports experience at practices and competitions, overseeing staff, chairing committees, and working with parents - not just from theories in a textbook. Through that experience, I’ve learned that unique problems require unique solutions, so I don’t apply a one-size-fits-all approach to client programming. I am here to work with you to help you unlock your fullest potential and find confidence and success as defined by you!