Coaching Staff
Joe Marker - Head Coach
Joe Marker enters his first season as the head baseball coach of the Grand Lake Mariners.
Marker brings with him over 25 years of baseball experience spanning from high school to the professional level.
Marker is currently the Director of Baseball Operations for the US Baseball Academy. The US Baseball Academy conducts baseball clinics across the country helping baseball players improve their skills and knowledge of the game. As the National Director, Marker is responsible for program development and quality instruction.
Prior to joining the Mariners' coaching staff, Marker spent eight seasons as the head coach of Russia High School, nine at Greenville High School and 23 seasons as head coach of the Greenville Legion/Connie Mack team. Marker's career also includes eight years as a professional scout with the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds.
During his career, Marker has amassed more than 850 wins as a head coach, including 17 league titles, 11 district championships, 9 regional berths and 1 state championship. In 2007 he led the GTI Sluggers to the Connie Mack state championship.
In his time as a coach Marker has sent 121 former players onto play baseball at the D-I level. 11 of those players have been drafted professionally, including Mariner alum Travis Miller. Miller pitched with the Minnesota Twins in 1995 and is joining Marker's staff as the Mariners' pitching coach. Marker also coached Pete Rose, Jr. son of baseball's all-time hit leader Pete Rose.
A native of Kenton, Ohio, Marker graduated from Indian Lake high school where he lettered in both basketball and baseball. Marker currently resides in Greenville, Ohio with his wife Angie. They have five children; Jason 27, Lindsay 25, Jordan 21, Cale 18, and Heath 14.
Larry Gray - Assistant Coach
Larry Gray is entering his first season as an assistant coach for the Grand Lake Mariners. Gray brings with him 23 years of baseball experience.
Gray is currently the head baseball coach at Tri-County North high school. Prior to becoming the head coach, Gray spent seven seasons as the assistant coach at Tri-County North, six seasons with the Dayton Renegades 17118s, and three seasons with the Greenville Technology Sluggers.
During his career, Gray has recorded 264 wins, 5 league titles, 1 district championship. Gray was on the coaching staff of the GTI Sluggers that won the 2007 Connie Mack state championship. Several former players have gone on to play at the collegiate level.
A native of Lewisburg, Ohio, Gray graduated from Twin Valley North high school where he was an all-league performer in both baseball and football.
Gray and his wife Jodi, resides in Lewisburg. They have two sons; Austin 22 and Garrett 20.
Bart Davis - Assistant Coach
Bart Davis enters his first season as an assistant coach of the Grand Lake Mariners. He will be teaming up with Marker for a third time. Previously, they coached the Greenville Legion teams in 1999 and 2000. More recently, they coached the 2007 Connie Mack State Champions, GTI Sluggers, along with assistant coaches Travis Miller and Larry Gray.
Currently, Davis is the head baseball coach at his alma mater, Eaton High School. This spring, Davis enters his 1 ih season as the head coach with 150 wins and 4 SWBL league titles.
Prior to coaching, he spent three seasons, 1995-1997, in the minor leagues as a shortstop and second baseman. Davis played for the Richmond Roosters, before signing with the California Angels. He finished his career with the Anderson Lawmen.
Davis played four years at Ohio Northern University. He was an All-Ohio Athletic Conference shortstop, helping the Polar Bears to a school best, 33-11 record, during his senior year. Prior to his senior season, he played in the Great Lakes League for the former Dayton Aviators.
Davis and his wife, Angie, reside in Eaton. They have four children ...Kamryn 9, Ty 8, Drew 4, and Jay 2 years old.
Travis Miller - Pitching Coach
Travis Miller joins the coaching staff in his first season as pitching coach for the Grand Lake Mariners. Miller's baseball experience includes ten seasons of pitching professionally, with seven of those years reaching the major league level.
A graduate of National Trail in New Paris, Ohio, Miller was a three sport standout in football, basketball, and baseball. Travis continued his pitching career at Kent State. While there, the pitching staff's ERA was consistently near the top ofD-l rankings. In 1993, following his sophomore season, Miller pitched for Grand Lake. Travis earned numerous awards during his college career including 1994 MAC pitcher ofthe year.
He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1994 with a first round sandwich pick (34th overall). Miller made his major league debut in 1996 and retired from playing after the 2003 season.
Miller, who is also the pitching coach at Eaton High School, resides in Eaton, Ohio with his wife Sarah and their four children; Grace, Ava, Beau, and Caroline.