by Warren Kozireski
2001 Spencerport alum Alan Zemaitis takes on duties as an assistant coach at Susquehanna University. Photo provided by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.2001 Spencerport graduate and former Penn State and Tampa Bay Buccaneers football player Alan Zemaitis has been hired as an assistant coach at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
“I have a strong desire to work with today’s youth and (know) how hard you have to work in life,” said Zemaitis via phone. “Football has impacted my life both on the field and off and I wanted to get into the collegiate ranks and take the next step. So I sent my resume out to a lot of Division III, Division II and Division I programs in the northeast. Susquehanna called and I accepted.”
Zemaitis was a fourth round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2006 after a stellar career with Penn State where he was a three-time All Big-Ten cornerback and second team All-American in 2005. He broke conference and school records when he recorded 207 interception return yards in 2003.
He suffered from injuries as a pro, was released by Tampa Bay and signed to play one season with Hamilton in the Canadian Football League in 2008.
Most recently Zemaitis was a defensive backs coach at East Lake High School in Florida and was an evaluator with Schuman’s National Underclassmen Combine.
“The hardest part will be the actual move (from the Tampa area). I consider this opportunity the start of the second part of my career and the second part of my life.”
“I’m extremely loyal and try not to look too far ahead, but someday I would like to coach at the Division I level or maybe the NFL.”
The Crusaders open camp August 13 with the season opener at home on September 1.
