Mark Brunswick’s second stint as head baseball coach at Bellefontaine High School has come to an end.
Brunswick, who returned to lead the BHS program in 2019 after coaching four seasons at Marysville, recently informed athletic director Matt Comstock of his intent to step down.
Health issues have hampered Brunswick at times throughout his coaching career and became an issue again this spring, forcing him to take some time away from the team.
“Over the last couple of weeks, things have been deteriorating with my health situation,” said Brunswick. “I had some complications at school, and after speaking with my wife and the medical people, we felt it would be best if I stepped into a different role with the program. It’s time to move in a different direction.”
Russ Hogue, an assistant coach for the Chiefs, has stepped into the role of interim head coach.
During the off-season, Comstock said the position will be posted and the process to find a permanent coach will begin.
Brunswick plans to stay close to the BHS baseball program, helping with instruction and organizing camps and clinics.
“I’m a Brunswick. I am still going to be on a baseball diamond,” he said with a laugh. “I am extremely grateful that the administration is allowing me to stay involved. I want to keep driving the bus and help to mentor the new coach. Bellefontaine is so special to me. It’s my home and we are going to retire here.”
But having to deal with the every day stresses of leading the program was taking too big of a toll on Brunswick’s health.
“It’s a tough decision, but it’s just time,” he said. “My life as a baseball coach has come to an end. I still feel the desire to help kids, it just won’t be as a head coach. When you are a head coach, you become sort of a CEO and you can get away from the coaching aspect of the position. I really want to get back into the teaching part of the game and working with kids one-on-one.”
Brunswick led the Chiefs from 1995 until 2010, achieving a high level of success that included two trips to the Division II state tournament.
After a few years away from coaching, he took over at Marysville in 2014 before leaving in 2018 to rejoin the Chiefs.
The Chiefs went 9-12 in 2019 under Brunswick. After last season was wiped out because of COVID-19, the Chiefs got off to a slow start this season and the ongoing health concerns saw Brunswick hand off duties to Hogue.
“We felt that was the easiest transition for the rest of this season,” said Comstock of having Hogue lead in the interim. “That way we didn’t have to juggle any coaching spots.”
A Coldwater native who played for his father Lou Brunswick, a Ohio High School Baseball Hall of Fame coach, Mark Brunswick was a third-round pick of the New York Mets in 1984.
In addition to coaching, Brunswick has taught social studies at BHS for 27 years.
“There are so many great memories here,” said Brunswick. “When I look at those banners at our field, I think of the things accomplished by a group of young men, coaches and the community. There have been so many people that have been a part of this. The relationships I have formed with coaches, players and the people of the community will always be very special to me.”