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Marcia Belser French

Marcia Belser French

  • Class Year:
    1963
  • Induction Year:
    1995
  • Sport(s):
    Head Coach and Administrator

Marcia Belser French '63 graduated from BW in 1963 and was inducted into the Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

French was a lifelong contributor to Baldwin-Wallace College. French was a 1963 graduate of the College. She was the school's most successful volleyball and softball coach, and an administrator and innovator of women's athletics at B-W, in Ohio, and at the NCAA Division III level.

French, a native of Cleveland, was an avid participant in athletics and other on-campus organizations during her four years as a student. She helped lead the basketball, volleyball, badminton, bowling, and table tennis teams to championships while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education. In addition, French was a four-year member of the Columbia-Dartmouth team and served as captain as a junior.

French introduced intercollegiate softball to BW in 1970.  In 22 years, she guided her teams to success at the  slow-pitch and again as the sport made its transition to fast-pitch in 1986.  In 1992, BW compiled a school-record 28 wins and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III national tournament.

From 1985-92, French compiled a 124-123-1 (.502) overall record and a 64-55-1 (.540) conference record.

In addition to coaching softball, French also was the head volleyball coach.

In 27 seasons as volleyball coach, she compiled a record of 447-298 (.600), with two teams advancing to the NCAA Division III national playoff level. In 1992, after leading the Yellow Jackets to a 28-12 record and a berth in the NCAA nationals, she was named Midwest Region Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

French retired from active coaching in 1992 with total of 697 victories, including 447 in volleyball.