MARION — The MCS School Board on Wednesday night approved the selection of a former Giant as Marion High School’s next head baseball coach. Gabe Wagner, a 1996 Marion graduate, will take over for Clint Davis, who left to become athletic director at Northfield High School.
Last season, the Giants had the program’s most wins since 2001.
Wagner played for the legendary Mel Wysong in the early 1990s. In 1991, the Giants were state runner-up. They were also sectional champions in 1991, ’92, ’93, and ’94.
“Coach Wagner rose above the other candidates,” Athletic Director Jamy Bechler said. “We had a number of applicants for the position. However, he possessed so many of the qualities that we were looking for in our next coach. We wanted someone that could unify and energize our local baseball community. We wanted someone that had a long-term commitment to building the baseball program. During the search process, Coach Wagner was able to articulate and communicate his vision and plan for our feeder program and for our high school team. He has strong baseball knowledge and a good understanding of what our program needs.”
Wagner has been coaching for 20 years. Most of his experience is with Marion’s youth teams and with the nationally elite Fort Wayne Cubs organization.
“I am very appreciative of having the opportunity to be the head baseball coach of the Marion Giants,” Wagner said. “I look forward to working with the present and future Marion Giant baseball players.”
Marion has a rich baseball history as they have won one state championship (1984), have been state runner-up three times, have earned five regional championships and 20 sectional championships, which ranks 14th all-time on the IHSAA list.
