BASEBALL COACH OF THE YEAR: Virginia High's Daniels driven by the past

On the sunny Sunday morning of June 13, Virgina High lost to Rappahannock in the Group A baseball championship game at Radford University.

It was a crushing setback, especially for the nine VHS seniors who had spent the past four years sacrificing for their chance at high school immortality.

VHS head baseball coach Mark Daniels had no time to dwell on the heartbreak. Less than 24 hours after the 7-4 defeat, Daniels was back on the road in his position as an associate scout with the Atlanta Braves.

“Virginia High baseball has always been a big part of my life,” said Daniels, who was selected as the 2010 Bristol Herald Courier Coach of the Year. “I spend a lot of time in airports, but I’ll do whatever it takes to help our kids improve and have the opportunity to play in college.”

Bearcat pride

Daniels, 43, played quarterback for the VHS football team, but baseball was his true passion. In a city that has long cultivated and supported youth league and high school baseball teams, Daniels learned the essentials of the game playing first base for longtime VHS coach Eddie Icenhour.

The defining images of his playing days remain vivid to Daniels, and they have helped to shape his comprehensive approach to coaching.

“We won the [Group AA title] in my sophomore year, and then lost in the state title game at home in my senior year,” Daniels said. “I’ll never forget those games and those emotions.”

Since assuming control of the VHS program in 1994, Daniels has often emphasized the rich tradition of Bearcat baseball. VHS has won five state titles since 1981.

With a pulse-pounding 6-5 win over Chatham in the Group A semifinals this season, Daniels reached the coveted 300 career win standard.

Daniels has bypassed several opportunities for more lucrative jobs in coaching. He feels his work at VHS is far from finished. For example, there is the path established by his mentor.

“I remember when Coach Icenhour won his 400th game,” Daniels said. “I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t want to reach Coach Icenhour’s career win total of 462.”

The blueprint

In addition to a focus on fundamentals, hustle and off-season refinement, the constant with the Bearcats has been a loyal crew of coaches and helpers.

Since making his coaching debut at VHS, Daniels has worked closely with assistants Carlos Lee, Jeff Davidson and pitching coach Jimmy Nave. James “Smiley” Sword has served in the role of stats guru.

“All those guys have been tremendous help to me,” Daniels said. “We graduated from Virginia High and we feel blessed to coach here. For me, it’s not about the wins or money. It’s about this program and school.”

Sword, the longtime voice of VHS athletics, said that Daniels is part teacher, part motivational speaker and full-time friend.

“Mark knows that respect and dedication to the game is required, and he attempts to pass that along to every player on his team,” Sword said.

For Sword, the compassion and humility of Daniels is what separates him from other coaches and teachers.

“Mark truly cares about his players and staff, and he wants them to succeed and learn from the game,” Sword said. “Even if I am only a statistician, announcer or whatever the title, Mark makes me feel like a part of his staff.

“Outside of baseball, I feel Mark would always be there if I needed him. And it’s the same for many other people Mark works with.”

Nave, a former pitcher at VHS and Radford University, will not return to the team next year. After watching his son, Brandon, play his final game for the Bearcats this season, Nave will spend time watching his daughter play softball for VHS next spring.

“I’m going to miss Jimmy,” Daniels said. “All of my coaches have made my job so much easier.”

Traveling man

The VHS coaches constantly challenge their players with grueling practices and top caliber tournaments. Thanks to extensive fundraising efforts, including trash pickup at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Bearcats have journeyed to tournaments in Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, S.C., Anaheim, Cal., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We use those tournaments as a time for the coaches and players to come together as a family,” Daniels said.

That family dynamic was tested in final regular season game this year after the Bearcats suffered a demoralizing home loss to rival Gate City. VHS had a 12-8 record at the time.

“That was the turning point in our season,” Daniels said. “We had just lost 15-0, and then we had to turn around play Gate City again in two days. I was worried to death.”

Dakota Katelouzos, the smallest player on the VHS team, stepped forward with words that offered comfort and inspiration. The Bearcats soon became galvanized.

“Dakota told everyone that we had to have short term memory and move on,” Daniels said.

The Bearcats rolled past Gate City, 6-3, in a playoff for the CMD regular-season crown. VHS did not lose another game en route to the fateful Sunday morning matchup against Rappahannock.

Summer school

In his role as a Major League scout and talent evaluator with the Baseball Factory, Daniels has watched a variety of college sensations and future Major Leaguers in their formative stages.

Last August, Daniels realized the goal of every hardcore baseball fan by stepping into the friendly confines of Wrigley Field in Chicago to coach in the Under Armour All-American game. That nationally-televised contest featured eight athletes who were selected in the first round of the most recent Major League amateur draft.

Daniels has worked as a pro scout for 14 years, including stints with the Arizona, Cleveland and Atlanta organizations.

“Baseball has been very good to me and I have a lot of great memories of working with famous players and coaches, but my number one goal has always been to help my players and program,” Daniels said. “We’ve been fortunate to have almost 80 percent of our players move on to college baseball at some level, and a bunch of those guys have accomplished great things in the game.”

Daniels said that eight of the nine seniors on this year’s VHS team are planning to play in college

Meanwhile, the work never ends for Daniels. His summer travel schedule includes trips to New Jersey, Florida, Kentucky and Salem, Va.

“I just love the game and I love Virginia High baseball,” Daniels said.

The Daniels File

School: Virginia High

Career Record: 300-112

Regular season district titles: 9

District tournament titles: 8

Regional titles: 6

State titles: 1

State runnerup finishes: 2

agregory@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544