A native of Norwood, New Jersey,
Zach Sparber returns to the Garden State as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He served as linebackers coach and helped James Madison to one of the top defenses nationally in 2024. Overall, Sparber has been to five bowl games and has previously worked under notable defensive-minded coaches including Mike Elko, Bud Foster and co-defensive coordinator Robb Smith.
• Serving as linebackers coach for the nine-win Dukes in 2024, Sparber helped lead a unit that led the Group of Five and ranked third nationally with 29 turnovers gained, while ranking first in the Sun Belt Conference in total defense (321.8), scoring defense (20.5), rushing defense (115.4), sacks (3.15), first downs defense (227), interceptions (17) and fumbles recovered (12).
• JMU, No. 21 nationally in scoring defense, capped the season winning the Boca Raton Bowl, the first bowl championship in program history.
• LB Jacob Dobbs earned College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-America status to add to Second Team All-Sun Belt and a spot on the Butkus Award watch list.
• Sparber served three seasons on the Duke staff (2021-23), being promoted to linebackers analyst in 2023. That season saw the Blue Devils finish with an 8-5 overall record, highlighted by victories over No. 9 Clemson and Troy in the 76 Birmingham Bowl. Sparber coached LB Tre Freeman to Second Team All-ACC honors, and the Duke defense ranked 10th nationally in red zone defense (.744) and 16th in scoring defense (19.0), which led the ACC.
• In 2022 under Elko and Smith, Duke posted a 9-4 overall record and defeated UCF in the Military Bowl. Sparber mentored LB Shaka Heyward to All-ACC honors, as he finished his Duke career tied for eighth in fumble recoveries (5), 12th in tackles-for-loss (32.5), 13th in tackles (339) and tied for 14th in sacks (11.5). Also an All-ACC linebacker in 2021, Heyward later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals after competing in the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.
• Sparber spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Virginia Tech (2018-20), where he worked under Foster, a Broyles Award winner. While with the Hokies, Sparber helped the program win 19 games and make appearances at the 2018 Military Bowl and the 2019 Belk Bowl.
• Sparber spent the 2017 season as an offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coach at Bergen Catholic High School, his alma mater. During his one season with the program, the Crusaders finished 10-2, claimed the Group IV State Championship and were a top-25 team nationally, including a No. 1 ranking in the state of New Jersey. All five of Bergen Catholic’s offensive linemen went on to play college football, including all-state tackle Bryan Felter, currently a member of the Scarlet Knights.
• In 2016, Sparber served as the defensive line coach at Stonehill College. While on staff, Sparber’s defensive unit led the Northeast-10 in fewest rushing yards allowed.
• Sparber was a four-year letterwinner at Brown, earning Second Team All-Ivy League honors as a senior. He was also awarded the Lawrence Rubida “Iron Man” Award and “Bill Perry” Defensive Lineman Award during his time with the Bears.
• Sparber graduated from Brown in 2015 with a degree in business entrepreneurship and organization. He also earned master’s degrees in education from Virginia Tech in 2020 and management studies from Duke in 2022.
Hometown: Norwood, N.J.
Alma Mater: Brown, 2015
Wife: Alli
Child: Son, Brody
2025-present: Rutgers (co-defensive coordinator/linebackers)
2024: James Madison (linebackers)
2023: Duke (linebackers analyst)
2021-22: Duke (defensive graduate assistant)
2018-20: Virginia Tech (defensive graduate assistant)
2017: Bergen Catholic HS (offensive line/recruiting coordinator/assistant strength & conditioning)
2016: Stonehill (defensive line)
