Spring Arbor University Men's Baseball

Marken will undoubtedly build on the strong legacy of baseball and character development." No stranger to the program, Marken, also a former player at SAU, helped guide the Cougars to back-to-back Crossroads League Tournament championships and NAIA National Championship Opening Round appearances in 2014 and 2015. As a player, Marken ('10) was part of Cougar teams that won three conference titles and made two NAIA World Series appearances, including one in 2007 where the team finished as the national runner-up. His class would go down as the winning class in program history putting together back-to-back 40-win seasons with records of 48-5 and 40-9, including a remarkable 36-game winning streak in 2007. "This program is so much bigger than me," said Marken. "The rich tradition and the level of excellence that has been on display for the last 55 years is something I hope to continue to build upon. To have the opportunity to replace two Hall of Fame coaches in (Hank) Burbridge and (Sam) Riggleman is incredible. To even have my name in the same sentence as those two is pretty surreal. To be able to step in for Sam, my mentor, is an honor. That man has done so much for my career and my faith walk, and I'm so thankful to him and his wife." In addition to his time coaching in the college ranks, Marken spent five years as the head coach of the Indiana East Lake Chargers, an elite baseball academy summer travel team headquartered in northern Indiana. As part of the Chargers' staff, Marken has helped develop and graduate over a dozen players who have gone on to play high level collegiate baseball. His 17U team has amassed a .766 winning percentage playing against the best teams in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. Marken is married to Alyssa Curtis, who is also an SAU alumnus and former athlete.