Amanda Zabel comes to Bates College with a diverse background in collegiate coaching, player development, business leadership, and student-athlete mentorship.
Zabel joins Bates after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), where she worked with goalkeepers and offensive players while helping guide the program's scouting, game planning, recruiting, and community engagement efforts. During her tenure, Saint Joseph student-athletes earned numerous conference honors, including GNAC Rookie of the Year, all-conference recognition, and weekly conference awards.
A veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Zabel has also completed two coaching stints at Sacred Heart University (2010-13, 2020-21), where she worked with goalkeepers, defenders, and attackers while assisting with recruiting, film analysis, academic support, compliance, and player development. During her time with the Pioneers, Sacred Heart produced a Freshman All-Rookie Team selection, multiple All-NEC honorees, an NEC Defensive Player of the Week, three NEC Tournament appearances, and an NEC regular-season championship.
In 2017, Zabel returned to her alma mater, Central Connecticut State University, as an assistant coach. There, she developed the Blue Devils' goalkeepers, assisted with defensive systems, scouting reports, team travel, and budget operations, and helped mentor the program's all-time goalkeeping record holder.
Beyond the collegiate game, Zabel is the founder and co-owner of Black Pirate Lacrosse, a player development and training company established in 2019. Through the organization, she provides specialized goalkeeper instruction, recruiting guidance, and individual and group training opportunities. She also serves as Goalie Director for Nor'Easter Lacrosse. Under her leadership, Black Pirate Lacrosse has grown into a successful regional business serving athletes throughout New England.
A former standout goalkeeper, Zabel starred at Central Connecticut State University, where she remains among the program's most accomplished netminders. She set school records with two 25-save performances and earned multiple top-10 national rankings during her collegiate career. She was also recognized as a Northeast Conference Academic Achievement Award recipient and graduated magna cum laude.
Prior to her coaching career, Zabel worked in government and consulting roles, including positions with the Connecticut General Assembly and Deloitte's Government & Public Services practice. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a minor in Sociology from Central Connecticut State University and later received a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven.
