Barnegat's Mark McCoy Signs Letter of Intent to Pitch for Wake Forest

Mark McCoy’s mind has been on the gridiron these last few weeks.

The Barnegat High School senior and quarterback is helping lead the Bengals through a remarkable season on the football field. But after school on Monday afternoon, it was his first sport and his lifelong love that had his attention: baseball.

Surrounded by his parents and school officials in the high school's library, McCoy, 18, signed his letter of intent to pitch for Wake Forest next year.

“This is what I’ve been working for my whole entire life, and I’m just excited to be able to do it,” he said.

It was a proud moment for his parents, too. Dad Dan has been McCoy’s coach his whole life, and is currently head baseball coach at Barnegat. Dan McCoy said his son has been a baseball player “basically since birth.” Mom Pia remembers donning a hockey helmet and serving as a stand-in batter.

Now it’s time for his son to take a big step forward, he said.

“A lot of it you’re born with. He’s definitely gotten to a point where this will help him get to the next level.”

Mark McCoy said he also considered playing for N.C. State, but when he visited both Carolina schools, Wake Forest won him over.

“I just really loved the coaching staff,” he said. “It felt like home.”

Brett Hardie, now a coach for South Toms River High School, was McCoy’s head coach for three years, said he’s always known Mark would go far.

“From the time he came out for the team as a freshman, you could tell he was going to be something special,” he said. 

Barnegat High School Athletic Director John Germano agreed. “He’s a well-rounded athlete and a well-rounded person,” Germano said. “He’s got a great motor, and he’s always working hard.”

It’s a great feeling to see one of the school’s own players looking forward to a college athletic career, Germano said. “It makes me very proud of Barnegat to see one of our kids make it,” he said. “It’s my favorite part of the job.”