SHARON — Zach Sarver has been an apprentice to high school and college basketball coaches who have won well over 1,000 games in their careers.

Now the 31-year-old Slippery Rock High graduate has landed his own head basketball coaching gig.

Sarver was hired Monday to take over the boys basketball program at Sharon High School.

“I’ve been fortunate to learn from some exceptional coaches,” Sarver said. “I’ve been blessed to be mentored and tutored by them.”

Sarver was a standout guard during his playing days at Slippery Rock and was a first-team Butler Eagle all-star selection following his senior season in 2001-02.

Even then, his high school coach, Chris Burtch, saw the coaching acumen from his point guard.

Sarver has served as an assistant coach at Grove City High, Hickory, Sharpsville, two of the top high school programs in Maryland and as a graduate assistant at Slippery Rock University.

Sarver is also currently the boys and girls track and field coach at Sharpsville High School, where he currently teaches.

He took over the track and field program three years ago to save it.

“They were going to eliminate the program and one of the girls (Madison Przicina) — who is a baby sitter for us now — asked me to be the coach,” Sarver said.

Przicina will make her third trip to the PIAA Track and Field Championships in Shippensburg this weekend, competing in the 400 and the 800.

As for the Sharon basketball job, Sarver doesn’t need to save it, just nourish it.

The Tigers went 34-34 the last three years — including two trips in the District 10 playoffs — under former coach Jason Rankin.

“It’s obviously a school that has a great athletic traditions,” Sarver said. “It has incredible facilities. I think we have the best gym in District 10. It’s loud and it’s a big floor and I hope to get it rocking again.”

To do that, Sarver intends to use what he has gleaned from those coaches who piled up all of those wins.

“I’d be absolutely foolish not to,” Sarver said. “I’ve seen a lot of guys with a lot of different philosophies, but one of the common denominators is they taught the team has to be together. A team has to be on the same page.”

Sarver, his wife Kristin and their 14-month-old son Caden live in Hermitage.

The close proximity to where Sarver lives, works and coaches will be an added plus, he said.

“It’s very convenient,” Sarver said.

Sarver joins his brother, Travis, in ascending to a head coaching position this year.

Travis, an assistant on the Slippery Rock High football team, took over as head football coach of the Rockets in March.

Like his brother, Zach Sarver faces pressure in his new post.

“You don’t want it any other way,” Sarver said.