Mark Cisar and Dave Tallman.
Last week I had the privilege of sitting down with John Marshall’s football and baseball coach, Mark Cisar. He graciously took time from preparing for the upcoming football season to sit down and talk about high school sports with me. Coach Cisar turned 50 in May and in the vast majority of those years sports has played a big part in his life.
You may be thinking to yourself, what choice did he have? Well, that is not the thought I came away with after we spoke about his life and where it has taken him. He made an early choice in life to follow what he loves, “Sports.” And it has been a life long decision that he doesn’t regret. Mark said his family growing up had an influence on his decision. But the choice was his and he is proud of his family for allowing him the freedom to make his own choices.
Mark explained the game of football has basically remained as when he played, however it’s the things outside the normal season that have changed. Today kids often concentrate on one sport. Summer leagues, sports camps and physical condition. “I sometimes think we ask kids to stretch themselves too much. I like for the kids I work with to have fun in the summer like my brothers and I did.”
“Back in the day, me and my buddies would play football on our own. Come the first of August my dad had us in his program. Playing the game his way, PERIOD. And that was okay, because we knew he was going to get out of us all that he could,” said coach Mark.
When asked if that style of hard nosed football was his way?
“Yes, and no. I want the intensity to play the game from my players. I believe that is inside each of the boys who come out each season and my job and the coaching staff’s job is to pull that out of them. I also understand that I have many different skill levels to build a team with, and I also remember that when I played, some of the guys just wanted to play ball with their friends. No great aspiration of sport stardom, just enjoy the game. To me, that is okay.”
“Kids start out early wanting to be great athletes, and that drive and other factors sometimes cause them to peak too soon, and they become burnt out. I want kids to keep in mind that sports are about the game, and building character which will benefit them in their life. That may sound philosophical, but like my dad, I want to help build young men who will go out in the world and face success and failure. Just like winning championships and at the last moment watching it pass by with one point short on the scoreboard. That is the game, and that’s life.”
When asked if his wife Angie, knew what she was getting herself into? Coach Mark answered, “Yes, my mom told her.”
Mark said she asked Angie if she knew for sure what marrying a man who had a love for sports would be like. He admitted his wife knew that he was dedicated to sports, and on a Saturday morning when she wanted to go shopping, he would be watching game films or dragging a baseball field for the day’s game. Did it upset her, sometimes, but she knew it was in my blood. He added that in ten years or so when he retires, he plans to spend more time and enjoy life with his family.
Mark has an up-and-coming Junior, Jacob Cisar on his team. When asked, what motivates him? Mark said, “To be honest, he reminds me of myself. What I mean by that is, my brother Aaron was very athletic, brother Ryan had the size and was strong and I was the runt. I felt like I was stuck in between two guys that I had to outwork every day. I would go and practice kicking and working out just to build myself up. Jacob has that same drive in him. He tells me often he is going to work out, or get some batting practice in. Not because I tell him too, he just has that drive, much like me, that tells me he wants to excel at sports by giving his all. Jacob seems to be driven by that.”
Knowing that his dad, coach Dave Cisar is a legend in West Virginia sports, Mark said, “It’s not unusual for people to come to me and say, ‘You’re Mark Cisar, son of Dave Cisar.’ That makes me proud. I am not my father in many ways, but in others we are alike. His guidance in my life has made me the person I am. He taught me to coach the game the best ways he knew. But, as I grew into my own coaching style, I learned that building a team can be done in different ways, not better, only different, that is the approach that I have taken.” “Dad…Coach Cisar was tuff.”
Mark Cisar has grown into a fine man and outstanding coach. In the last two seasons, the Monarchs’ have finished their seasons 1 and 9 and 2 and 8. You might think that is not very impressive for a Cisar. But you could not be more wrong. Watch him coach and listen to his locker room talks and sideline huddles. He is a coach that remembers winning is important, but in the big game of life, building young men to be prepared for life is the ultimate homerun. He is proud of his family, his mom and dad, and his athletes.
Coach Mark Cisar is building toward the day when he will be remembered as, not the son of a legendary coach, but the man who was his own coach and man. And before you are too judgmental of the past season, take a look at his schedule. Like his dad he does not pick teams that pose little challenges, but teams that often go into the playoffs. Best of luck Coach Mark Cisar and the 2025 Monarchs.