Columbia University Athletics

2022

NFF Hampshire Society Inductee … Served as team’s starting right tackle in all 10 games.
 
2021

Saw action in eight total games with two starts as a senior offensive lineman … Started each of the last two games at right tackle (Brown, at Cornell) … Missed the first two games of the year due to injury … Helped the offense hold opponents to a school-record low 12 sacks and 65 sacks yards on the year … Key contributor on the offensive line that held opponents to zero sacks in five games (Marist, Georgetown, Penn, Brown, at Cornell).
 
2020

Season canceled due to COVID pandemic.
 
2019

Played and started in all 10 games as a sophomore offensive lineman … Listed all year long as the starter at left guard … Nominated for CoSIDa Academic All-District honors … Earned varsity letter.
 
2018

Did not see any game action as a first-year offensive lineman … Contributed primarily on the scout team.
 
2018 AT LOOMIS CHAFFEE SCHOOL: Played a post-graduate season of football at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn., where he played for Head Coach Elliot Dial … Earned All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council honors as an offensive lineman … Named to the USA Today Connecticut All-State Second Team as an offensive lineman … Competed in both football and wrestling in 2017-18 … Named team football team captain.
 
HIGH SCHOOL

A 2017 graduate of Manchester Central High School, where he played three years of varsity football for Head Coach Ryan Ray … Named First Team All-State NHIAA Division I as a defensive lineman … Named USA Today New Hampshire First Team All-State as a senior … Earned North Division I First Team All-Conference honors as a junior … Named an NHIAA Division I Scholar-Athlete in 2017 … Named to the NHFR 2016 Watch List … Played in the New Hampshire East-West All-Star Game … Suffered two major injuries in high school … As a junior, intercepted two passes, including a 31-yard touchdown return against Goffstown … Missed sophomore season due to injury … Earned a total of seven varsity letters in both football and wrestling … Also competed in wrestling for four years … Won state NHIAA Division I state championship during senior year as a heavyweight … Named top-10 in graduating class as a senior … Earned Joe Yukica Scholar-Athlete award … Earned the school’s Perseverance Award in 2015.
 
PERSONAL

Born Zachary Michael Minch on September 9, 1999 in Sayre, Pa. … Son of Daren and Jennifer Minch … Has a brother Connor … Played percussion in high school band … Loves playing football, loves the contact … Nicknamed “Big Minch” by his Manchester Central H.S. teammates … Notable individuals who attended his high school: Adam Sandler and Chip Kelly … Hobbies and interests include fishing, travel and the beach … Role model is his father who has always taught him to do his best and propelled him to be the person he is today … Favorite sports memory was intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown against Goffstown … Committed to Columbia on January 11, 2018 … Selected Columbia for its location, history, community, football program and the fact that Columbia provides one of the best educations in the world … Enrolled at Columbia College … Majors in Economics.