North Texas Daily

When head strength and conditioning coach Zack Womack was tasked with getting the offensive line significantly stronger over the past summer, he did not hesitate or shy away.

Instead, he found weaknesses in every player and improved them – starting with core strength and working out from there. The unit’s enhanced strength has shown through the first seven games of the season, as those on the team have been impressed by the offensive line’s turnaround.

It’s something Womack has done for each position group at one time or another. He lingers behind the scenes, working consistently as one of the more important coaches on the football staff.

“He gives you that drive,” senior running back Jeffery Wilson said. “He makes you a dog. He’s a great coach, and he’s one of the biggest parts of the Mean Green program.”

Womack spent time at the University of Florida, Illinois University and East Central University, and had a lot of experience to piece together when he joined the University of North Carolina staff with then-offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.

After two years together, Womack followed Littrell to Denton – and continues to thrive in yet another new environment.

His work with the offensive line is perhaps his greatest accomplishment in his two seasons with North Texas. It’s an accomplishment that he directed his focus toward knowing the impact it would have on the offense.

“Improving the offensive line was a big goal of mine going into this year,” Womack said. “Not just physically but also bringing them together as a closer unit, and they have done that. They’re a tight group, and they understand how hard they have to work to compete on Saturdays.”

Quarterback Mason Fine spoke at length about Womack’s impact on keeping the sophomore physically able to take a season’s worth of shots this year.

Backup quarterback Quinn Shanbour, who spends a lot of time in the meeting room and off the field with Fine, is a kinesiology major and understands the ins and outs of the workouts Womack has put together to help the Mean Green.

“He does a really good job of identifying what we need every single day,” Shanbour said. “A big difference between him and some guys we’ve had in the past [is] he’s been a lot more individual [with us]. He understands what we need, where we need to be at and our goal as well as the path to our goal.”

In addition, Womack brought in a nutritionist who has helped players like Fine and Wilson improve their weight.

The hands-on approach is something players have embraced as they have seen the results and progression throughout their short time with Womack.

“That’s just the approach I know,” Womack said. “That’s just me. It’s about building relationships with these guys. You have to get them to trust you and know that you have their best interest in trying to get them better.”

That trust has been earned throughout the program, and it starts with the Littrell, who is the most familiar with Womack.

“He does an unbelievable job,” Littrell said. “He knows every player is a little bit different. He’s done a good job not only getting them bigger, stronger and faster but also [with] the nutrition aspect. Just like the offense and defense, year two in the weight room helps as well with understanding what and who you have.”

At the end of the team’s game against the University of Texas at San Antonio, Fine threw the game-winning touchdown pass at the expense of getting laid out by a zero-coverage blitz. He stayed down for a minute, but as soon as he got to his feet he was cheering with the rest of his team.

A year ago, he may not have bounced back so quickly. But now with over a year of weight training and communication with Womack and company, he feels a lot more confident in his offensive line as well as his own strength.

“I’ve gotten a lot stronger over the past year,” Fine said. “He’s really been on me, making sure I eat right and keep my upper body stretched and preventing a lot of injuries. [There’s] great communication between me and Womack.”

After impressing in his first year with the football program at North Texas, Womack is now the director of strength and conditioning across all sports.

He has a hand in the nutrition and strength regiments of every athlete at North Texas.

“Now, it is not just football,” Womack said. “You’re trying to get the needs from each team from their strength coaches as well. I have great coaches and they make my job easy so I know they’re getting trained properly.”

While football will remain his primary sport and focus, he embraces the opportunity to expand his horizons and reach out into the other sports.

“It’s good, getting out and meeting some new athletes and watching them excel in their sports as well,” Womack said. “It’s exciting for all of us [in the department].”

Featured Image: Zack Womack joined North Texas last season when coach Seth Littrell arrived in Denton and has been instrumental in the team’s success this year. Matthew Brune