Max Zakheim, a multi-talented student entering his fourth and final year at èapp, is ready to make his mark on the sports world, where he hopes to one day become a college basketball coach.
The 23-year-old from Bergenfield, NJ is not only pursuing his MBA at the Sy Syms School of Business but also excelling as a Division III student-athlete on YU’s men’s basketball team. He’s been playing on the team since he was an undergraduate at Syms while majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship.
Zakheim feels strongly that his YU experience has provided him with the important skills he will use in his professional career as well as his personal life. “My experience as an undergraduate at the Sy Syms School of Business, an MBA candidate, and a four-year starter and two-time captain of the men's basketball team, has been transformative in developing my leadership abilities both on and off the court,” said Zakheim. “The rigorous academic environment combined with competitive athletics has taught me to excel under pressure while maintaining the highest standards of integrity.”
He’s gained a wealth of experience as the head coach of the U-17 Girls Basketball team at the Maccabi Games, an assistant coach for the Ramaz School Varsity team and by working this past summer at The Hoop Group, the nation's premier AAU basketball tournament circuit and showcase platform for prospective college players.
“As I pursue my goal of college coaching, YU has provided me with the business acumen and analytical skills essential for managing a basketball program and the Jewish values that will define my approach to mentoring young student-athletes,” he added. “The opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on the next generation of players is what drives my passion for coaching, and I am confident that my YU education has prepared me to be both an effective leader and a meaningful mentor."
