SLIPPERY ROCK - Why not apply?

That was Zach Sarver's attitude when the Slippery Rock High School boys basketball coaching position came open this spring.

Not far removed from his playing days under former coach Chris Burtch, the 20-year-old Sarver threw his hat in the ring for the job.

"What's it going to hurt me?" Sarver asked. "I could go get the experience, go through the process and get some feedback. It was a win-win situation for me."

Sarver, who helped out Burtch last season as a volunteer assistant and as a ninth grade coach, didn't get the job. It went to Sean Strickland. But Sarver was hired as the junior varsity and assistant varsity basketball coach at the school.

Sarver, who interviewed with athletic director Cory Hake, principal Harry Beil and board members Tammy Orloski and Randy Giesler, made quite an impression.

"I had a good showing," Sarver said. "Mr. Beil called me into his office and said, 'You did a great job. Don't change a thing.'"

But, ultimately, Sarver was too young.

"I kind of knew that was going to be a deciding factor," Sarver said.

As a senior for the Rockets, he averaged 13 points per game, hit 60 3-pointers and was named to the Butler County first team.

That was just two basketball seasons ago. Now, he is coaching players who could someday earn a spot on that first team.

"I think (the closeness of age) does help a lot," Sarver said. "But it's different. I walked the same halls with these guys when I was a senior and they were freshmen. They are used to calling me by my first name. They can't do that anymore."

Sarver is currently working on a degree in mathematics at Slippery Rock University. He will tack on an additional year to get his master's degree so he can teach.

His learning isn't limited to the classroom, however, as Sarver has been like a sponge, soaking up whatever tidbits he can from the likes of former Butler boys basketball coach George Abraham, Slippery Rock girls coach Gene Rodgers and SRU men's coach John Marhefka, as well as Burtch and Stickland.

His father, Bud, has been an assistant football coach at Slippery Rock High School for nearly 20 years.

"I'm trying to take in as much as I can," Sarver said. "I learn stuff every day."

Sarver hasn't ruled out coaching football, either - he assisted Slippery Rock High head coach Clyde Conti the last two seasons. But basketball is his first love.

"I'm not going to get out of it," Sarver said. "Once you get out, it's tough to get back in."

He already has a fan in Stickland, who has relied upon Sarver early this season for background on the team and its players.

"He impresses me with his work ethic," Stickland said. "He's going to be a big-time coach. And he's only 20. I remember when I was 20, and I wasn't thinking about coaching basketball."

Sarver doesn't know where he will end up: at a high school or at a college. But he's going to have fun pursuing a dream he had when he was still playing in high school.

He cites cases where people are getting coaching shots at younger and younger ages.

Westminster College women's basketball coach Rosanne Scott was named head coach of the Titans at age 24.

"There have been some young coaches," Sarver said. "I'll get my shot."