by Taylor Pill
WATERTOWN, Wis. – After coaching baseball at Maranatha for 15 seasons, Coach Gary Garrison has announced that the 2023 season will be his final season as head coach of the program.
Garrison will remain at Maranatha as a faculty member, teaching Physical Education and Health and various coaching classes. But the time to hang up the proverbial whistle became clear as Garrison approached the 2023 season, which will be his 43rd season coaching the sport.
“The physical demands of the role of a college baseball coach led to my decision to step down as head baseball coach,” Garrison said. "Coaching baseball has high physical demands, and a baseball coach is physically active in every practice and before every game."
Those physical demands were more strenuous than you might think, as Garrison would throw approximately 500 pitches to his batters for batting practice before every game. That, combined with fungo hitting, station work in practices, and other physical demands are enough to take a toll on anyone.
"I believe that the Maranatha baseball players deserve a coach who can commit maximum effort and strength to the daily commitment of head coach," Garrison said.
Garrison faced multiple challenges as head coach – a weather-shortened season, constant rescheduling of games, and severely limited practice space, to name a few. Usually, the team’s first game was also the first time the team faced live pitchers. Hardly a setting in which a college coach would thrive.
But like he does everything else, Garrison embraced all of it with unwavering positivity. And he was relentless in his pursuit of improvement and the building of a brotherhood. He had myriad challenges but never compromised his character, his coaching principles, or his optimistic demeanor and biblical outlook on life.
He thrived.
Because for Garrison, baseball has always been a means by which he develops young men for the cause of Christ. So, the relationships with players are what he will miss the most.
"I will surely miss the opportunity to daily invest in the spiritual development of players," Garrison said. "These current MBU players have been an absolute joy to coach. I will miss the bond of 'brotherhood' that the baseball team has developed and embraced."
It didn't matter that the team had limited success in terms of their win-loss record. Garrison leaned into it. He had the unique ability to use anything as a teaching tool, and he transformed challenges into opportunities.
He wasn't just in the business of building baseball programs. He was in the business of discipling men.
“I think everyone has a special place in life for that one person they simply know as ‘Coach,’” said Caleb Prigge, who played for Garrison for four years and served as team captain. “No doubt in the world that Coach Garrison will always be that to me, as he is to many of my good friends. His personal impact goes well beyond MBU Baseball into the very lives of men who love Christ and serve His people. I truly believe that Coach embodies this motto – people are ministry and ministry is global.”
Garrison doesn't talk about memorable wins or competitive seasons when you ask him about baseball. He talks about the team's regular mission trips to the Dominican Republic (where he intends to return, of course). He talks about people. He talks leadership. And he talks about Christ.
“We are thankful for the many years that Coach Garrison has led the baseball team,” said Rob Thompson, Maranatha’s Athletic Director. “Often through difficult seasons due to early spring weather in Wisconsin, limited rosters and injuries. Coach Garrison embodies the qualities that he and MBU desire in our young men, such as devotion to the Lord, family, church, and work.
“Thank you coach Garrison for your devotion to MBU and the baseball program! Sad to see you hang up the whistle, but happy you will still be around in the classroom.”