Browse through a Canada West or U SPORTS record book and you'll quickly learn who Dominic Zagari is and what he accomplished during his five-year career at the University of Manitoba.
 
He's undoubtedly one of the greatest Bisons ever, and going a step further, he's one of the greatest U SPORTS running backs ever.
 
As a 20-year-old, Zagari was a top recruit out of Montreal in 1990. During his three years of Cégep football — a Quebec general and vocational college — Zagari set their record books ablaze too (although most have been broken).
 
Then in 1991, Zagari moved to Manitoba to become a day one starter at running back for the Bisons. "Zig-Zag" would carry the rock 713 times for 4,738 yards, scoring 48 all-purpose touchdowns — all Canada West records today.
 
Zagari's legacy of durability — and on-field dominance — extended to the national level too. To this day he's second in U SPORTS history in rushing yards and all-purpose touchdowns, holding the U SPORTS rushing record from 1995 until 2008.

Mr. 300

When it comes to single-game U SPORTS records, Zagari's tied for fourth all-time with five rushing touchdowns in a game. He's also one of 16 student-athletes to rush for 300 yards during 60 minutes of football. Zagari's historical day came on September 16, 1995 vs. Alberta: 30 carries, 308 yards, and five touchdowns.
"It was just one of those games where it felt like I was running downfield all the time," said Zagari. "It was strange because you don't realize how many yards you have until you see the stats afterward… it was just one of those games where as a team we were unstoppable."
 
A week later Zagari passed Grant Keaney as the U SPORTS rushing leader (the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union at the time). The Bisons paused their game at UBC to award Zagari a game ball, a proud moment for the 5'11 210-pound runner.

Team didn't find same success

If you ask Zagari, it's not the personal accomplishments that first come to mind — it's the lack of playoff action. Back then only two Canada West teams made the playoffs. And so, during his five years, Zagari only got to play in a single playoff game. It wasn't another proud memory.
 
"We had a wicked storm… the field was just horrible," said Zagari about the 23-11 loss to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the 1991 Canada West Conference Championship. "So what they did is they poured sand on it to help give us grip and it was like sandpaper on ice, it was just weird."
 
Three games into the 1992 season, head coach Steve Spurgeon was relieved of his duties. The following season the late Ron Lancaster Jr. left the Toronto Argonauts coaching staff to become UM's head coach. The Bisons went 8-16 under Lancaster — Zagari's final three years.
 
Zagari spent the first four years of his Bisons career alongside current Winnipeg Blue Bombers President and CEO Wade Miller. Zagari was the go-to guy on offence, Miller on defence.
 
"If we see each other, we'd recognize each other, we'd say hello," said Zagari. "In '94 we were both All-Canadians, so we had an opportunity to go to Toronto together and go through all that kind of stuff."
 
Both have a whole trophy case of U SPORTS awards. In 1991, Zagari received the Peter Gorman Trophy as the U SPORTS rookie of the year and earned a Canada West All-Star Team nod, his first of four in his post-secondary career. Zagari also finished as a three-time First Team All-Canadian and four-time team MVP.  

Retired before playing professionally

Naturally, Zagari's name followed by the letters "CFL" (or even "NFL") would be an acceptable Google search. Except when you do so, nothing pops up — Zagari never played pro football.
 
Zagari and Miller both attended Blue Bombers training camp in 1995. Miller stuck with the club for the next 11 seasons while Zagari went back to UM for his senior year.
 
The Edmonton Eskimos brought in Zagari in 1996 but cut him a few weeks later.
 
"I got into education and I had to think, you know do I want to keep pursuing a CFL career or move on in my life?" said Zagari. "I had just gotten engaged, I just decided that you know what, I had a great amateur career and I'm moving on."
 
Zagari coached high school football in Winnipeg until 2001, and that was it for him and football.

Father, vice-principal in Winnipeg

After graduating in 1995, Zagari landed a job at Churchill High School.
 
He has three kids — a 20-year-old son, 18-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son — and has made Winnipeg his permanent home. Zagari's oldest son Zac won a provincial title with the Greendell Falcons in 2016 but has since put school ahead of football.
 
"He was also playing running back so that was pretty fun to go watch," said Zagari.
 
Today Zagari's a vice-principal at Kelvin High School. He says he gets recognized the odd time from his football days.
 
"Anytime somebody brings up the fact that I was a football player I tell them right away 'You're dating yourself just by knowing that,'" laughed Zagari.

Still a football fan

Whether it's high school, club, CFL, or NFL — Zagari still watches the game he excelled at.
 
"The game has really changed when I see all these guys getting opportunities now, which is wonderful," said Zagari. "Back then it was like 'Okay Canadians play certain positions.' They're not even considered for skilled positions."

Sixteen former Bisons are currently on CFL rosters. Then there's David Onyemata, who recently signed a 3-year $27 million contract with the New Orleans Saints after three seasons with the Bisons from 2013–15.
 
"I enjoy cheering for the Bombers and was glad to see them win the Grey Cup," said Zagari. "But my heart for the CFL actually belongs to the Montreal Alouettes, having grown up there and actually my grandfather played for them and won a Grey Cup in 1949. Other than that, I'm a big Dallas Cowboys fan."
 
This September will be the 25th year since Zagari's record-breaking season. The single thing Zagari's most proud of? His friendships with former teammates.
 
"They honestly do last a lifetime, and I know that if any of those guys called me, I'd be there for them in a second and I know vice versa," said Zagari.

Watch some of Zagari's career highlights with UM football below.