“We set a new world record and it was amazingly early,” said Mr. David Zielke. 

For 33 years, Mr. Zielke has been setting records as a fantastic math teacher, cross-country coach, former vice principal, and Advanced Placement coordinator. After a long career of service, Mr. Zielke will be retiring with a legacy of being a true man for others.

Founded in 1963, Jesuit High School Sacramento has had Mr. Zielke as a teacher for over half of its existence. In those 33 years, Mr. Zielke has consistently been a source of inspiration and positivity in academics and athletics. With contagious enthusiasm in mathematics, ambition as the cross-country assistant coach, and dedication as testing coordinator, Mr. Zielke has been involved with nearly every part of the Jesuit community. There isn’t a single person on campus who doesn’t know him. 

Mr. Zielke is ending his coaching career with a bang, setting Jesuit’s team up for a long future of success. With his help, the cross-country team won the prestigious Nike Portland Invitational meet and dominated subsections and sections. But they didn’t stop there. They ran their way to the state championship for a California record 10th time. And at the Nike Cross National Championships, they earned 11th place overall. 

“I’m regretting having to leave,” Mr. Zielke said. “We have an incredible team of young men who have some bigger aspirations, even bigger than what they achieved last year, for this coming year and the year after. I’m going to be following them from afar. It’s great to go out and have a state championship in my final year here.”

For his athletes Mr. Zielke has always been a source of inspiration, despite how demanding the sport can be. He is always able to add a bit of levity to any situation.

“Mr. Zielke reminds students that despite how grueling our activities may be sometimes, there is always something we can add to our daily routines to look forward to,” said Alejandro Penilla ’26, a cross-country runner. 

The awards and accomplishments of the Jesuit cross-country team would not be possible without Mr. Zielke’s fair but rigorous standards.

“In running and teaching in life, the recipe for success is commitment and smart work,” Mr. Zielke said. “Work smarter, not harder. Being committed to what you’re doing and taking pride in doing the best job you can. You know, if you’re going to do a job, do it right.”

Mr. Zielke doesn’t just reserve this standard of excellence for cross-country, but takes it to his classroom as well. When he teaches, he doesn’t just hammer the material into the students’ heads, but really cares that each of them really understands the concepts.

“[His precalculus class] was always really exciting,” said Caden Kelly ’25. “You wouldn’t expect excitement from a math course. He helped me appreciate that there’s more to the classroom than what is initially showing or [doing]what you have to do to get an A.”

During his tenure at Jesuit, Mr. Zielke has mastered the art of teaching. Other teachers look to him for inspiration in their own teaching. 

“He knows his stuff,” said Precalculus Teacher Ms. Antonia Doherty. “With precalculus, he understands the calculus and beyond that that [the subject] leads into. So that gives him a depth to his teaching. There are so many things he does well. He clearly knows what he’s talking about, and his humor and his caring for the students are some of his strengths.”

Mr. Zielke has cemented his legacy as a teacher and coach that brings kindness and optimism to everything that he does. Keeping good relationships with other staff members and students has been a priority of his, and is why he will be remembered so fondly for years to come. 

“Mr. Zielke knows that all teaching begins in a good relationship,” said Principal Dr. Michael Wood ’99. “Mr. Zielke connects with his students and with his colleagues on a human level and builds their relationship, and then allows the teaching to happen in a better space. His strength is just being a good human being.”

While he is retiring, Mr. Zielke doesn’t plan to totally leave Jesuit. 

“I hope to come back and visit from time to time,” Mr. Zielke said. “I’m going to miss it, but you know, God’s decided that it’s time to start the next chapter.”

Mr. Zielke will remember his time at Jesuit fondly, and Jesuit will remember him in the same way. He has left an impact on so many young people, and will be missed as he rides off into the sunset.