Bill Zito, NHL Columbus Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager

Columbus Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Bill Zito was named general manager of the 2018 United States Men's National Team, USA Hockey and the Blue Jackets earlier this year. Zito oversaw the selection of players that represent the United States at the 2018 IIHF Men's World Championship in Herning, Denmark.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Zito previously served on the management staff for the 2015 U.S. Men's National Team that captured a bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF Men's World Championship in Ostrava and Prague, Czech Republic.

Zito joined the Blue Jackets as assistant general manager in August 2013 and serves as the general manager of the Cleveland Monsters, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate.  Since his arrival, Zito has helped the Blue Jackets to a pair of Stanley Cup Playoff berths and led Cleveland to the first Calder Cup championship in franchise history in 2015-16.

Prior to joining the Blue Jackets organization, Zito spent two decades building Acme World Sports into one of the top hockey agencies in the world by uncovering late-round or undrafted, lesser-known players, as well as the top picks.  As the agency’s founder and president, his list of clients included: John Madden, Brian Rafalski, Tuuka Rask, Kimmo Timonen, 2013 Vezina Trophy finalist Antti Niemi and former Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Award winner Tim Thomas.

Zito is a graduate of Yale University, where he played varsity hockey from 1984-87.  He then attended law school at the University of Wisconsin and during that time served as an assistant coach for the Badgers hockey team and was a radio color commentator for Badger hockey.  Upon earning his law degree, he went on to practice at major firms in New York and Chicago before founding Acme World Sports, LLC, in 1995.