By Mark Brunswick
As I write this article, I am putting 40 years of experience and knowledge into it to help future families and athletes better understand the most important things coaches and college coaches look for in their programs. This article is meant to help people guide athletes as they pursue their passion in life. All is good in the neighborhood if you do what is right.
Having been a professional athlete, coach, and player for so many years, I have lived through the “old school,” the “new school,” and the “player’s coach” eras. We have negotiated what is right and what is fun, and how to balance right and wrong in the sports arena. We need to get back to what I call ONE SCHOOL, which is the right school—one that does not waver on self-discipline, accountability, and responsibility in the mentorship of the athlete.
If an athlete has these three foundations, along with a true passion for their sport, they will find success not only in athletics but also in life. There are no excuses, as these three foundations cannot be negotiated at any time in life. Please listen, because these are still the things coaches look for, even as society has moved away from these core values.
Past Athlete
Without question, the past had its problems, and athletes still made choices they wish they could take back. However, even when mistakes were made, families—along with coaches and teachers—still carried out mentorship by instilling the three foundational pieces that helped athletes succeed in both sport and life.
We cannot move away from these foundations, as they provide structure in daily life. We cannot bypass teaching these intangibles, because athletes are still growing and learning life skills. I have witnessed many times that an athlete who is very talented but lacks these foundations will fall by the wayside and never reach their full potential. On the other hand, I have seen athletes with average ability become very successful in both sport and life because they had stability and structure.
Never allow these intangibles to be negated, as they can be the key element in a young person’s life. I believe that parents and mentors in the past allowed young people to develop these foundations and succeed. Be mentors and supporters of young athletes, and you will find they have more fun and develop a greater passion for their sport.
Working hard and holding yourself accountable every day allows you to truly define the term student-athlete. Live for today and let the future take care of itself. If you live by the foundations listed above, you will always be a winner in sport and in life.
Present-Day Athletes
Today’s athletes possess greater athleticism and more opportunities to succeed, but advancement and development in the game can sometimes be lacking. I feel that work ethic, commitment, and the desire to be part of a team are missing in some athletes. We must refocus on the foundations and teach young athletes the successful way to approach their journey.
Neglecting these foundations will guarantee that many athletes fall short of their passions and dreams. No handouts are given—hard work will speak for your future. There are no excuses, because through failure many athletes grow and learn.
Parents and support mentors, allow your athlete to fail at times. Be there during the difficult moments, but allow them to grow through their journey. Being overly involved can hinder development and often causes athletes to walk away from sports due to a lack of fun and too much pressure.
Trust the process. As one major scout and recruiter once told me, “If you are good enough, they will find you.” He went on to say that when you add hard work and strong foundations to athleticism, you create an athlete capable of reaching many goals in both sport and life.
Coaches and Recruiters
Unfortunately, society has moved away from foundational values, which has caused many athletes to fall short of their potential and dreams. This shift does not align with what coaches and recruiters truly look for. I have been around many great coaches and recruiters, and it is the intangibles that separate athletes when it comes to starting positions or recruitment.
If an athlete lacks these intangibles, coaches and recruiters will often look elsewhere for someone who has stability and structure in their life. Beyond that, the first thing they evaluate is how the athlete is doing in the classroom. I have met many athletes who could have played at the college level, but neglecting academics kept them from achieving their dreams.
Coaches and recruiters observe everything—body language, attitude, teamwork, and coachability. These are the true separators. Once concerns appear in these areas, coaches often move on. Work hard, stay committed, and continue your journey, and you will see that dreams can be reached.
If I can impart one key lesson from my many years in sports, it is this: the key to getting noticed is working hard and building the foundational habits that create structure in life.
Believe me, if you stay true to yourself and do what is right, you will find success in whatever you pursue.
In closing, enjoy your time in high school. Do not chase scholarships—if you are good enough, the scholarships will begin to chase you. We are trending in the opposite direction, which often takes the fun out of the athletic experience. Feel free to reach out if you need advice. I am more than happy to help.
I have seen both worlds of the athlete, and I hope we can move the needle back to ONE SCHOOL again. It truly is the key.
Mark A. Brunswick
Retired Teacher/Coach
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║ MARK BRUNSWICK — AT A GLANCE
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║ • Coaching Career: 1995–2025
║ • Head Coach: Bellefontaine HS (22 yrs);
║ Marysville HS (4 yrs); Lehman Catholic HS
║ (2 yrs)
║ • Career Records: 502–165 (spring);
║ 925–230 (spring/summer)
║ • Championships: 10 league; 12 district
║ appearances; 5 regionals
║ • State Final Four: 2004, 2006
║ • Summer Titles: 2002, 2004, 2005
║ • Player Development: 73 to college baseball;
║ 11 Collegiate Baseball All-Americans;
║ 36 Academic All-Ohio; 17 All-Ohio
║ • Notables: 2006 team had six D-I signees;
║ ranked No. 19 nationally by Collegiate
║ Baseball Magazine
║ • Honors: ABCA District Four Coach of the Year
║ • Facilities: National Field of the Year —
║ Bellefontaine (2000), Marysville (2015)
║ • Showcase Coach: Team One (Kentucky, 2000;
║ Notre Dame, 2003)
• Inducted — Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association HOF, 2026
• Inducted — Bellefontaine High School Athletic HOF, 2026
║ • Playing Career: Coldwater HS (state titles
║ 1983, 1984); drafted 3rd round, 1984 by the
║ New York Mets; played 1984–1991
║ • Family: Married to Gay Knapke Brunswick
║ (39 years); children Mackenzie and Benjamin;
║ two grandchildren
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