Mike wrestled in high school form 1970-1974. He first wrestled at Plantation High School for Coach Bruno Stanlawski, and then at St. Thomas Aquinas High School for Coach George Smith. In 1974, Mike attended Miami Dade North on a wrestling scholarship and was coached by Rick Tucci. Zarra started his 42-year coaching career in 1976 as an assistant wrestling coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale. In 1985, St. Thomas won their first and only team title. The following year, he was named the team's head coach. During his tenure at St. Thomas, Zarra's teams finished in the top 10 of the state tournaments five out of six years. Mike has coached over 40 state qualifiers, along with numerous, county, district, regional, state placers and champions. In 1991-1992, Zarra took the Head Wrestling and Football positions at Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton. While only there a year, Mike had one state placer in 1992. Mike moved on to McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida in 1992. At McArthur, Zarra has filled the duties as Head Boys Track Coach, Assistant and Head Football Coach, and Assistant and Head Wrestling Coach. During the 2012-2013 season, Mike started the South Florida Girls Championships at McArthur which is the oldest continuous running girls' tournament in South Florida. In 2016, Mike was inducted into the Broward County Athletic Association Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Mike has earned 311 wins with only 119 losses; he has coached two FHSAA State champions and nine place winners along with an NCAA All-American. Zarra has retired from coaching in 2018 but still teaches at McArthur High School and serves as the Assistant Athletic Director.