Menlo School is pleased to announce that longtime educator Keith Zalaski will join the Menlo faculty as an Upper School Mathematics teacher, as well as lead the Varsity Boys’ Basketball program. Zalaski comes to the Knights after a decade-long tenure at The Rivers School in Massachusetts.

“Keith is an outstanding educator and basketball mind, making him an ideal fit for Menlo,” Menlo School Director of Athletics Earl Koberlein said. “His experience at The Rivers School, where he served as a teacher and head coach, aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence in both the classroom and on the court. Having him on campus full time will bring immense value​ to our students​.​”

During his tenure at The Rivers School in 2015, Zalaski compiled a stellar 220–68 career record. Under his guidance, Rivers ​won three consecutive New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class B Championships (2022–2024), and two Independent School League (ISL) titles, with the program qualifying for postseason tournament play every year of his tenure. He is a three-time NEPSAC Class B Coach of the Year, two-time ISL Coach of the Year, and has placed more than 20 student-athletes into high-level college programs.

“My life has always been a blend of academics and athletics, and I am excited that the opportunity to continue teaching and coaching at Menlo presented itself,” Zalaski said. “I have been doing both for 20 years now, and the longer I’ve been an educator, the more I see the overlap between the two. Character is the most important aspect to both. Ideally, the classroom and court present challenges, so you have to find ways to navigate them, work with others, and accept that these struggles are the reasons you will continue to grow.”

He also links current players with alumni, building a network of more than 50 men for basketball and career help.

“Connection will be the first thing we talk about as a team, and there’s no better way to be connected than showing up in as many areas as you can for someone else.”

He served as Rivers Head Athletic Director from 2020 to 2024, overseeing a 64-team, 22-sport athletic program with more than 115 coaches and six full-time staff. He played a foundational role on the committee that launched the ISL’s inaugural Changemakers Conference in 2022 — a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging-focused event for student-athletes, coaches, and administrators across the league. As an educator, Zalaski has taught math and economics in courses ranging from foundational Geometry to Advanced Precalculus and Calculus.

Before his teaching career, Zalaski was a standout student-athlete at Amherst College, graduating with a degree in Economics. As a member of the Amherst men’s basketball team, he played in four NCAA Div. III tournaments, advancing to the Final Four twice. He also served as a co-captain of the Amherst men’s golf team. He went on to earn a masters in teaching from Tufts University, where he also served as a men’s basketball assistant coach from 2010 to 2015.