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Marks Brothers Join RCC Athletic Program

The Marks brothers - R.J. and Chris - are baseball players, coaches, and aficionados of the game. Natives of Brown Summit, the two climbed the ranks from little league players to college athletes to coaches and/or instructors.

"I think you're born with a love of the game," said older brother R. J. Marks. "It's in your blood."

The two are bringing their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to Rockingham Community College's baseball program - for the second time. They were once RCC athletes. In fact, R.J. was team captain of the college's inaugural baseball team in 2000-01. Now he has accepted the position at RCC as the head coach. Chris, who played on the team from 2002-04 and was named to the All-Region 10, will serve as assistant.

"This area has talent pool of great baseball players. I hope to take them and make this a program the college and the area will be proud of."

In experience, the two have their bases covered. R. J. excelled as a catcher and outfielder; Chris as a pitcher and infielder.

They have a string of records, too. R.J. Marks was a two-time All-Conference baseball player at Guilford College where he served as team captain during his senior year. For seven years he has instructed children through adults at the Greensboro Batting Center, worked as a strength coach at Carolina Acceleration in Greensboro, successfully operated a family business since 2004, served as head coach from collegiate to the Greensboro Palomino and Pony levels, and managed the Stan Musial League which were North Carolina runners-up for four consecutive years.

He graduated from Guilford College with a bachelor's degree in exercise sports studies and is married to the former Haley Rumsey of Madison. The couple expects their first child in fall 2008.

Chris Marks graduated from High Point University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in sports fitness and training. In addition to RCC, he was a scholarship player at Lander University in South Carolina, and a member of the Thomasville High Toms in the Coastal Plain Collegiate league. Chris has pitched an all-star game and won the Southern Collegiate Baseball League championship for the Kernersville Bull Dogs. He has worked as an instructor at the Greensboro Batting Center.

As head coach, R.J. Marks' philosophy is simple: "Our players, in this order, must be quality citizens, excellent students, and exemplary athletes. My goal as coach is to develop strong student athletes and to help them move to the next level athletically and academically."