Mark Zerbe is set to enter his third season as an assistant coach for the Penn State Harrisburg men's basketball program in 2025-26.
Most recently, Zerbe helped guide Penn State Harrisburg to 18 victories and the semifinal round of the United East Championship Tournament in 2024-25. As a team, the Lions were especially strong on the glass, securing an NCAA Statistical Championship in rebounding margin (13.5). Individually, Isaiah Eggleston became the second player in program history to be named to the NABC Division III All-Star Game and the ninth player in the program’s NCAA era to reach the 1,000-point mark. Eggleston also earned First-Team All-Region recognition from both the NABC and D3hoops.com after being named the United East Player of the Year. He was joined by Chris Henderson (second team) and Lance Douglas (third team) as all-conference picks.
Zerbe helped lead Penn State Harrisburg to the most successful season in program history in 2023-24. The Lions won a program-record 25 games, captured the United East Championship, and made their third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. In March, Penn State Harrisburg defeated Hood in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament - the program's third NCAA Tournament victory in four years. Donyae Baylor-Carroll became the first player in program history to earn all-America honors of any kind, as he was named to the NABC All-America Second Team to go along with a D3hoops.com All-America Third-Team selection. Baylor-Carroll, a two-time D3hoops.com National Team of the Week selection, was named to the NABC-Reese's Division III All-Star Game after becoming the program's all-time leading scorer (1,973 points), while teammate Nate Curry surpassed the 1,500-point mark for his career and finished as the program's all-time leading rebounder (892 rebounds). Baylor-Carroll was named an All-Region First-Team pick by both the NABC and D3hoops.com after earning United East Volt Division Player of the Year and United East Volt Division Defensive Player of the Year honors, while he and Curry secured United East Volt Division All-Conference First Team recognition. Following the conclusion of the historic campaign, Penn State Harrisburg received votes in the final D3hoops.com Top 25 National Poll for the third time in four seasons.
Zerbe joined the program after 17 incredibly successful years at nearby Milton Hershey, including 11 as the boys’ basketball program’s head coach after six seasons as a top assistant. During his decade plus as the Spartans’ head coach, Zerbe amassed more than 200 victories. He led Milton Hershey to four 20-win seasons, six PIAA State Championship Tournament appearances, 11 District 3 Championship Tournament berths, a Mid-Penn Conference Championship, and four Mid-Penn Division Titles.
Zerbe was named the Mid-Penn Keystone Coach of the Year after clinching a division title and guiding the Spartans to the PIAA 5A Championship Tournament and District 3 Championship Tournament in 2022-23.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic halted competition in 2020, Zerbe led Milton Hershey to the quarterfinal round of the PIAA 5A Championship Tournament. His squad won 23 games that winter and finished as the District 3 runner-up.
The most memorable season of Zerbe’s tenure came in 2017-18. Led by eventual Penn State Harrisburg standouts in Baylor-Carroll and Pedro Rodgriguez, the Spartans racked up 26 wins, captured the District 3 Championship, and advanced to the PIAA 5A Championship Tournament Semifinal Round for the first time in program history. Baylor-Carroll was named the PennLive Player of the Year, while Rodriguez earned all-star honors. For his efforts, Zerbe was named the PennLive Coach of the Year and earned the Abe Garner Outstanding Coach Award following a tremendous campaign.
In 2015-16, Milton Hershey won 25 games and led the mid-state in scoring, netting 75.6 points per game. Zerbe’s squad won the Mid-Penn Conference Championship that winter before advancing to the District 3 Tournament Semifinal Round and qualifying for the PIAA State Championship Tournament for the first time during his run.
Zerbe took over as Milton Hershey head coach in 2011 and never suffered a losing season in his 11 years at the helm. In addition to the on-court success, his program also set the standard for sportsmanship, as his teams received the prestigious Crawford Hunter Memorial Sportsmanship Award, voted on by Central Pennsylvania officials, four times in six years.
Zerbe currently resides in New Cumberland, Pa. with his wife, Jamie, and daughters, Kylie and Devon.
