Malone University Women's Basketball

The Malone University women’s basketball team announced Megan Belke as an assistant coach beginning in 2025-26. She was previously a Malone graduate assistant with the women’s basketball program in 2020-21 and 2021-22.   Most recently, Belke was the Director of Operations at Miami University in 2022-2023 then promoted to Assistant Coach with the RedHawks women’s basketball team in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. Miami advanced to the Women’s National Invitation tournament (WNIT) and Mid-America Conference (MAC) Tournament for the first time since 2018-19. Miami added ten wins to the previous season's output to match a program record for biggest single-season turnaround in Miami women's basketball history.   Belke was on a Director of Women’s Basketball Operations panel at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Convention in April 2025 located in Tampa, Florida. Belke was a member of the Grand Valley State University women's basketball team that advanced to four-straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournaments and made four trips to the NCAA DII Tournament. The Lakers were GLIAC regular season champions in 2018-2019. Her four-year overall record at Grand Valley State was 107-22.   During her time as a resident of Canton, Belke also spent time at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Dream Team Member in 2021. She helped run the 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame Enshrinements, the NFL Hall of Fame Game, and Concert for Legends.   Belke has a Bachelor's of Science in Sport Management and minor in Business from Grand Valley State University in 2020 and completed her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Malone University in 2022. She is from East Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Malone University announced the hiring of Zach Fresenko as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country in June of 2024. Fresenko, a distinguished alumnus of Malone University, brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success both as a coach and an athlete. Fresenko steps into the role following his impactful tenure as the Assistant Distance Coach at Malone University. His deep connection to Malone's athletics, combined with his professional background, positions him as an exemplary leader for our student-athletes. "Zach is a tremendous addition to our athletic department," said Malone Director of Athletics Tanya Hockman. "His love for Malone University runs deep. His parents, both alumni themselves, were cross country runners and coaches in the Stark County area. Zach is highly respected by the student-athletes and brings strong organizational and leadership skills." Previously, Fresenko held various positions at The Timken Company, including Senior Business Analyst, and managed operations at Duke Innovative Services/Fudgeboat Inc., demonstrating his versatility and managerial skills across different industries.  In addition to his previous roles, Zach provided leadership of a 30-athlete team and the successful outcomes at conference championships as an assistant coach at Malone, reflecting his capability to inspire and drive performance. Fresenko holds a Master's degree in Business Analytics from Lewis University and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Finance, and Business Administration from Malone University. As a student-athlete, Zach was highly decorated, being named an NCAA Academic All-American in Cross Country and receiving numerous accolades including first-team All-Conference and first-team All-NCAA Midwest Region honors. His leadership extended beyond the track as he served as captain of both the Cross Country and Track and Field teams at Malone University and Lewis University. "Malone has been an integral piece of my career and faith journeys," Fresenko said. "I am so excited to give back to the school and help continue the legacy of the cross country and track program!" Beyond his professional and athletic prowess, Zach has demonstrated strong leadership and community engagement. He has been an active board member of the Young Professionals Network and has served on various teams and committees within The Timken Company. Additionally, his commitment to community and faith is evident through his roles in the Rubber City Church.