(Massena) Former C&M Rocket Mark Erickson is the latest guest on our “Why I Coach” feature. He’s the head baseball coach at Red Oak, a position he’s held the last seven years.
Coming from Massena, baseball has always been a favorite of his. “We’ve had a town team there, someone will probably correct me on this, but I think at least since the ’60’s. So I grew up watching my dad play and older brothers play and just families and friends. I’ve had a passion for baseball since the time my parents started taking me to games.”
At one point in his career, Erickson teamed up with a fellow Cumberland-Massena alum Barry Bower as a coach in Red Oak. “Coaching with Coach Bower was one of the funnest things that I’ve ever done. Learned a lot from him in terms of how to build a program and really coach kids up, build relationships, and do a lot of things to help families be a part of the program.”
He doesn’t expect to step away anytime soon. “I’m in it for the long haul here. It’s been fantastic. I couldn’t ask for better parent support and community support. We’ve made a ton of changes to the field and the facility in general. It’s absolutely overwhelming to think of where we were and where we are now. Just the people in Red Oak, the families and baseball families and our businesses are so supportive as well. When you have great support like that it’s easy to keep grinding and hammering away at the job you are doing when awesome people that surround you.”
Previous Coaches
(Click to listen)
John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Dick Strittmatter, Atlantic native
Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Monte Riebhoff)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Steve Ahrendsen)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Scott Weber)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Curt Mace)
Warren Watson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Scott Yates, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum
Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach
Marc Bierbaum, Griswold grad and Iowa Western track/cross country assistant
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center
