By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
It's been quite the baseball coaching journey for Scott Marchand, a former St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School star.
Marchand, who played three seasons of college baseball at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. and one year at Fitchburg State College, got into the coaching ranks as an assistant at his alma mater at St. Bernard's and then at the Regis Jesuit High School American Legion team in Aurora, Colo.
Marchand finally got his shot at the United States Air Force Academy where he served in various roles, including defensive coordinator and assistant hitting coach, all while teaching 7th grade full-time.
Marchand worked extremely hard and was rewarded by the Air Force staff, naming him the full-time pitching coach in 2006, the same position he holds to this day.
"It was a dream come true right there," Marchand said. "For me as a player, being paid to play wasn't in the cards, but to make a living as a coach in the game of baseball is a dream come true."
In season, Marchand is as busy as can be. It's virtually baseball 24/7, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I don't look at it as grueling, but it's a choice," Marchand said. "You do it and the time flies by. I love working with people and being a coach."
This season, the Falcons were 14-36 and 3-16 in the Mountain West Conference.
Although the season is officially over, Marchand isn't done with baseball because he's Air Force's nationwide recruiting coordinator.
While baseball is extremely important to everyone on the staff, it's not the most important thing. Academics are priority No. 1 at the Academy.
"The Academy is not about baseball first and foremost," Marchand said. "I feel very confident in the product we have as a school. You know you're going to get one of the best educations, besides the Ivy League schools.
"We're looking for an SEC-ACC talent in a kid that is focused on a different life plan that sees education is the most important thing in their life. We want kids to want to push themselves. It's tough academically here, it's very challenging."
PHOTO / Rachel Bottcher
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