Hall of Fame
Mark Goetsch has used athletics cohesively within the NCCAA mission for 42 years. Twenty-seven of those years were at Pensacola Christian College (PCC) in various roles including teacher, coach, and athletic director. As a coach, his teams experienced success, but his primary focus was on teaching his student-athletes valuable life lessons through the game of basketball and challenging them to grow in their walk with the Lord.
A three-sport athlete at Maranatha Baptist Bible College (now Maranatha Baptist University), Mark had a short professional basketball career in Europe before transitioning to teaching and coaching the game he loved. Mark’s men’s basketball teams at Pensacola won two NCCAA South Regional Championships and made three NCCAA National Championship appearances. During his tenure as athletic director, PCC teams won 11 NCCAA South Regional Championships, two NCCAA National Championships, and made 12 NCCAA National Championship appearances.
Mark coached several NCCAA All-Americans, but he prioritized building a healthy culture, which emphasized Christ-likeness. He held post-game pizza gatherings for opponents, which helped strengthen personal relationships with other coaches and helped student-athletes understand that regardless of the outcome of the game, they are all still brothers and sisters in Christ. Mark had a desire to see each player honor Christ, which came through team devotionals and encouraging them to be spiritual leaders on campus.
While serving in the athletic department at Pensacola, Mark held numerous leadership roles within the NCCAA including regional sport chair, regional treasurer, regional coordinator, and national sport chair. His heart to serve is clear as he has led several mission trips to Romania and emphasized the importance of missions to other athletic directors and coaches. In 2008, one of Mark’s players showed up late to the team bus after a game and informed Mark he led an opponent to Christ at mid-court after the game. Mark’s legacy of using athletics to evangelize and encourage others has and continues to have immeasurable Kingdom impact.
PCC Athletic Director Addison Calley said, “I have had the great privilege to sit under Coach Goetsch’s teaching in the classroom as an undergraduate student at Pensacola Christian College and now have the great honor to be his colleague. His attention to commitment, steadfastness in whatever he’s doing, and spirit of integrity shines in all that he does. His influence for Christ to all his players and students will extend through many generations.”
“We coached against each other two to three times a year for a decade and worked closely together on administrative issues within the South Region,” stated Trinity Baptist College Athletic Director John Jones. “As a coach, Mark was always humble in victory, yet gracious and congratulatory in defeat, which is a rare quality in sports. His consistency in that has left quite an impression on me.”
Former PCC Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Demarlon Gardner said, “During my time as a player under Coach Goetsch, he was a great spiritual leader, always pushing me to do my best on and off the court. As an assistant for him, I learned what it means to be dedicated to your job. Coach Goetsch truly has a passion for coaching and serving his players.”
The NCCAA is honored to induct Mark Goetsch into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2022.