Former Bellefontaine High School baseball coach Mark Brunswick has been inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2026.
Brunswick now stands along with 182 other members, including four others as part of the Class of 2026; Tim Broskie of Whetstone High School, Brent Renollet of Tinora and Delta High Schools, John Sarver of Ellet, Archbishop Hoban, Buchtel, and Kenmore High Schools, and Kevin Yoder of Hiland, Coshocton, and Tri-Valley High Schools.
With the honor, Brunswick joins his father, Lou Brunswick, who was inducted in 1975 as part of just the third class in the Hall of Fame’s history, making the Brunswicks one of the rare father-son duos recognized by the association.
Mark’s full speech at the ceremony can be viewed below:
ABOUT MARK BRUNSWICK
Mark Brunswick was born and raised in Coldwater to parents Louis and Ann Brunswick and graduated from Coldwater High School in 1984. During his high school career, he was part of back-to-back state championship teams in 1983 and 1984. He lettered in both baseball and basketball and played under his father, the legendary Hall of Fame coach Lou “Sweet Lou” Brunswick, where he learned lessons that extended well beyond the field.
Following high school, Brunswick was selected by the New York Mets in the third round of the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent five years in the Mets organization, learning the game at the professional level under respected baseball minds Davey Johnson and Buddy Harrelson.
Brunswick later earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wright State University. His teaching and coaching career began at Bellefontaine High School, a place he continues to consider home. While he also spent several meaningful years at Marysville and Lehman Catholic, Brunswick has often said his time in Bellefontaine holds a special place in his heart.
With the support and guidance of legendary Bellefontaine football coach Greg Peitsmeyer and William Roberts, Brunswick built a program that became a cornerstone of the community. Over 24 years at Bellefontaine, he created countless memories and lifelong relationships, leading teams that were consistently competitive and widely supported.
Across his coaching career at Bellefontaine, Marysville, and Lehman Catholic, Brunswick compiled an impressive record of 502 wins and 165 losses. His teams captured 14 league championships, made 13 district tournament appearances, advanced to six regional tournaments, and reached the State Final Four twice, in 2004 and 2006. He was named the ABCA District 4 National Coach of the Year and helped more than 90 players advance to college or professional baseball.
Brunswick also coached 11 Collegiate Baseball Magazine All-Americans, 20 All-Ohio players, and 38 All-Academic All-Ohio selections. His 2006 Bellefontaine team featured six Division I players and was ranked 19th nationally by Collegiate Baseball magazine.
In addition to team success, Brunswick was recognized for excellence off the field. He earned two ABCA National Field of the Year awards at Bellefontaine and Marysville, served as a member of the ABCA National Ranking Committee, and had several articles published in Inside Pitch and Collegiate Baseball magazines.
To commemorate his 500th career victory, Brunswick was presented with a commemorative bat from the Kurt Barhorst and Joe Lachey families, a keepsake he says he will always treasure.
Brunswick credits his success to being part of a true baseball family. Along with his father, his brothers Tom and Jeff are also highly respected coaches within the baseball community. He fondly recalls attending baseball clinics with his father as a young boy, forming friendships and relationships that have lasted a lifetime.
Mark and his wife, Gay, have been married for 39 years and have two children, MacKenzie Brunswick Crabtree and Benjamin Brunswick. They also have two grandchildren, Louis “Sweet Lou” Crabtree and Olivia Crabtree. Brunswick has often described Gay as the definition of a coach’s wife, noting her sacrifices and unwavering support throughout his career.
As he reflects on his Hall of Fame induction, Brunswick emphasizes that the honor is not an individual achievement, but a collective one shared with players, coaches, families, and communities who supported him along the way. He says watching his former players grow into strong young men and devoted fathers remains the greatest accomplishment of his coaching career.
