Zach Raber
Zach Raber
Title: Associate Head Coach - Long Distance
Phone: 260.665.4126
Email: raberz@trine.edu
Previous College: Ball State University '08 / Wabash College '98

Coach Raber was named the Men’s Cross-Country coach during the 2013 season after spending 11 years as a high school coach in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Raber's first full season saw the Thunder men earn their best finish in the MIAA since 2007 as the team placed fourth during the cross country season. The team produced all-conference runner Adam Schaaf, the team's first all-league honoree in six years. The women's team also saw improvement with two top-five finishes in races during the 2014 campaign. Raber's development of the distance runners continued into the track and field season, highlighted by several distance runners contributing to a school-record in the distance medley relay.

As the Men’s and Women’s coach at Carroll High School, Raber led the Chargers men to five Sectional titles, five Regional titles, and two Semi-State titles.  During that time, Fort Wayne Carroll’s boys finished 2nd at the Indiana State Championship twice. On the women’s side, Raber went undefeated in sectional and regional championships, tallying 11 consecutive titles at both meets. The Lady Chargers also won four Semi-State titles and finished in the top five at the Indiana State Championship three times. Both of the Carroll cross-country teams were ranked in the top-50 nationally throughout Raber’s tenure. 

Individually, Raber has helped 25 athletes to All-State finishes in the state of Indiana for both track and cross-country, including three state champions. On the national level, Raber coached 10 All-American’s, ranging from cross-country to the track. In 2013, his boys 3200m relay team won the New Balance National Outdoor Championship after earning All-American status the previous season. Through 11 seasons at Carroll High School, numerous athletes under Raber’s guidance have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. An 11-time nominee for Indiana Cross-Country Coach of the Year, Raber won the award for boy’s cross-country in 2012.

Originally from Bluffton, Indiana, Raber attended Norwell High School where he accumulated three All-State finishes in track and cross-country. He went on to attend Wabash College where he graduated with a B.A. in History in 1998. He earned his master’s degree in Coaching from Ball State University in 2008.  As a collegiate athlete, Raber ran for legendary coach Rob Johnson, who also coached on the 2000 Olympic staff. Raber was part of three national qualifying teams and two teams that placed 4th and 3rd respectively at the Division III National Championship in cross-country. In 2013 Raber and his 1994 & 1995 Wabash cross-country teams were inducted into the Wabash College Hall of Fame. 

Raber currently resides in Fort Wayne with his wife, Erin, and two sons.  


Development Under Coach Raber (5K Only)
Runner Event Senior HS Best Trine Best Notable
Alex Amaro 5K 16:25 15:57  
Jack Beakas 5K 16:05 14:44 2019 XC National Qualifier
Kyla Binfet 5K 24:16 17:47 Conference Champ in 3K Steeple
Evie Bultemeyer 5K 19:25 17:16 Converted from 6K; 2019 XC All-American
Miranda Coombs 5K 23:00 20:10  
Stacy Dibley 5K 21:18 19:47  
Collin Elek 5K 17:08 15:43  
Courtney Forsythe 5K 22:11 19:10  
Will Huffman 5K 17:26 16:05  
Harrison Korkos 5K 16:48 15:52  
Elizabeth Lohman 5K 20:15 18:12  
Derek Miller 5K 16:03 14:52 2020 Indoor 3K Conference Champ
Jacob Myers 5K 17:52 17:03  
Neil O'Brien 5K 16:36 15:42  
Kelsey Ortiz 5K 21:04 18:32  
Jonathan Phillips 5K 17:52 14:47  
Lacie Piekarski 5K 19:55 18:08  
Brandon Sill 5K 17:13 16:03  
Adam Schaaf 5K 16:45 15:27  
Alli Smith 5K 19:54 18:11  
Vilis Vuskalns 5K 16:39 14:45