SPORTS

Prep Softball: Mark Falcon steps down as Glasgow coach

Scott Mansch
smansch@greatfallstribune.com

The Glasgow girls’ softball team had an excellent spring but bowed out of the State B-C tournament last week after losing two of three games in Belgrade.

The truly big loss came a few days later when veteran head coach Mark Falcon announced his retirement.

“He’s been huge for our softball program, but really he’s been coaching baseball and softball at all levels in Glasgow for 30 years,” said Scotties’ athletic director Brenner Flaten. “He was my youth baseball coach when I was 9 many years ago. A lot of the folks walking around town were coached by Mark somewhere along the line. He’ll be greatly missed, for sure.”

The Scotties finished 18-4 this season and qualified for the State B-C tournament for the 11th time in 12 years under Falcon. The program is only 13 years old and Falcon has been the face of the franchise nearly the entire time.

His overall record was 192-107. Scottie teams never won a state championship, but finished second, third and fourth during Falcon’s tenure. Next year’s team is expected to again be a state contender.

“It’s a good time to step down,” said Falcon, 60. “The program is going strong, so this is a good time to do it.”

With seven starters scheduled to return next spring, to be sure the Glasgow program is in excellent shape.

“You don’t always see that,” Flaten said. “Sometimes when a longtime coach steps out they do so at a low point. Mark is definitely not doing that. In fact you could argue he’s got one of the best teams he’s ever had coming back next year.”

Born south of town in Tampico, Falcon grew up in Bainville and has lived in Glasgow for the majority of his life. The retired railroad engineer’s family includes children Steven, Michael and Kimberly. All three earned All-State honors in several sports at Glasgow High.

“I learned how to compete and to never give up from my father,” said Michael Falcon, a former Legion baseball coach in Great Falls and head coach of the Billings Skyview girls’ softball team. “No matter the situation or the opponent we were playing, he had the utmost confidence in you as a player and that rubbed off on the entire team.”

Michael Falcon said his father’s selfless example did not go unnoticed.

“He did a lot of work behind the scenes that people don’t know about, and he didn’t care about getting credit for it,” Michael said. “He just enjoyed coaching and helping athletes have a positive experience.”

His own children played all the sports, including football and basketball. But it was softball that truly found its way to Mark Falcon’s heart.

“It’s very addicting,” he said. “It’s so fast and it’s amazing how fast the girls pick it up. It’s just a lot of fun to play, a really fast game.”

For the last dozen years, Falcon was head coach of the Scottie softball team. He also coached numerous Little League, Connie Mack and Babe Ruth baseball teams in town.

Memories abound. Especially of Scottie softball.

“The first time we ever beat Huntley Project, and they were a really tough team, when we finished third at State (in 2007) in Great Falls, that was big,” he said. “I remember it came down to the wire.

“Playing Florence in the championship game four years ago, in Anaconda, that was pretty memorable too.”

Never known as a rah-rah guy, Falcon’s presence on the bench or the foul lines can only be described as understated.

“Soft-spoken,” Flaten said. “He’s a real kind-hearted guy. It’s real easy for kids to like him and play hard for him. Sometimes that’s hard to find in a coach. I don’t think that’s ever been a problem, whether he was coaching high school softball or Little League baseball.”

Flaten said he has no one in mind currently as a replacement and that applications will be taken for about two months.

The hope, Flaten said, is that Falcon remains a visible member of the fan base in Glasgow.

“He’s always been a huge advocate for the Scotties and I don’t think that will change,” Flaten said.

Mark Falcon didn’t hesitate when asked if he’d still be rooting for his hometown teams.

“You betcha,” he said. “Scottie Pride and Glasgow Strong.”