Union University Athletics

David Marsh was a high school All-American from Alcoa, Tennessee before signing with the Union University Bulldogs. He wasted no time making his presence felt at the collegiate level. The Diminutive 5’7 guard was soon dazzling teams and coaches in the VSAC with his ball handling and playing ability.
 
As a freshman he was named to the Volunteer Conference All-tournament team and to the NCAA Mid-East Regional tournament team.
 
His dribbling heroics during the last five minutes of the bulldogs 61-53 upset at Memphis State garnered him a National Player of the Week honor and the lead Associate Press story nationwide. He went on that year to be named as an Honorable Mention to the Little All-American team.
 
During his junior year he was named to all-tournament teams in the Mayor Tournament, Union University Invitational, Carson-Newman Invitational, the VSAC all-tournament team and the NCAA Southeast Regional all-tournament team.  He was also named to the VSAC all-conference team in both basketball and baseball that year.
 
In his senior season, Marsh was named MVP of both the Mayor’s Tournament and the Union University Invitational Tournament. He was a nominee for the Naismith Hall of Fame for the Best College Player under six feet tall. He was named to the Little All-American squad that year. He was also presented the 1971 alumni award. He average 15.3 points per game during his career at Union.
 
Upon graduation from Union, Marsh began his coaching career at Alamo High School. Over a five year period his boys’ team won 128 and lost only 29. During that span they made one state tournament appearance. While at Alamo he coached baseball for two years amassing a 40-5 record.
 
In 1977 he returned to his alma mater at Alcoa High School. He worked as an assistant there for 12 years before taking over as head coach. In the next 13 seasons he served as head coach his teams compiled a 321-85 record winning 11 district championships, 7 region championship and made seven state tournament appearances. He also coached the girl’s softball team for five years taking the team to three state tournaments and finishing with an 84-19 record.