Kori Zarzutzki was named head women's basketball coach at Central Christian College of the Bible on Friday, April 9, 2021.
Womens Basketball
|

Kori Zarzutzki announced as new head women's basketball coach

Moberly, Mo.

Kori Zarzutzki has been named head women's basketball coach at Central Christian College of the Bible, Director of Athletics Jack Defreitas announced Friday.

Zarzutzki, a former student-athlete and coach at fellow Midwest Christian College Conference member Manhattan Christian College, comes to Central Christian after one season as the head coach at Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, Minn.

"We are thrilled to have Kori joining our team and to have her leading our women's basketball program," Defreitas said. "She not only understands the value of being a student-athlete in the MCCC and the NCCAA, she knows what success looks like at this level. Kori is an outstanding fit for our institution and athletics program."

Zarzutzki was tasked with starting the Oak Hills Christian women's basketball program from scratch in June of 2020 with no players on the roster. She was able to assemble a team in a two-month period while battling COVID-19 restrictions, and the Wolfpack went on to win six games during the 2020-21 season.

A native of Venice, Fla., Zarzutzki started her collegiate basketball playing career at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tenn., before transferring to Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kan., to play her final three seasons. As a player at Manhattan, she was a part of two national tournaments, with MCC advancing to the NCCAA DII national championship game in 2013. Additionally, she was a two-time NCCAA DII Scholar Athlete.

Following graduation, Zarzutzki joined the MCC staff as an assistant coach in 2016, helping the Thunder to another national tournament appearance in 2018. After two years as an assistant coach in Manhattan, she served in the same role at Grinnell College, an NCAA Division III program in Grinnell, Iowa, for two seasons.

"I am so thankful for the opportunity that CCCB has given me to be a part of their family," Zarzutzki said. "I am thrilled to lead the women's basketball program — to get to know the current players and to build moving forward. There is a lot to be excited about, and I cannot wait to see where we can take this program!"

Zarzutzki graduated with dual degrees from Manhattan Christian College and Kansas State University in 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible & Leadership from Manhattan Christian and a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies & Human Services. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern University (Fla.) in 2018.