The Nebraska Greats Foundation is proud to announce that a grant has been awarded to former Nebraska baseball player, Mark Haley, to assist with his ongoing medical needs.
The Nebraska Greats Foundation (NGF) is dedicated to supporting former and current college athletes from any of Nebraska’s four-year colleges and universities who face financial and medical hardships. We are honored to extend our assistance to Mark as he continues his recovery journey.
Mark Haley is best known for his outstanding career as the manager of the South Bend Silver Hawks, where he led the team from 2005 to 2014. During his time with the organization, he earned the title of Midwest League Manager of the Year three times — in 2005, 2008, and 2013. Additionally, he was named Player Development Man of the Year for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005 and was the first recipient of the Joe Garagiola Jr. Award for excellence in player development in 2008. Under his leadership, South Bend advanced to the playoffs eight out of ten seasons, winning one Midwest League Championship and three Eastern Division Championships.
Before his professional coaching career, Haley was a standout athlete who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 26th round of the 1977 amateur draft. However, he chose to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), where he played baseball and earned a degree in education. Following his graduation, Haley began his coaching career as an assistant coach at UNL from 1982 to 1986.
In late February 2024, Mark underwent surgery in Indianapolis to repair a cerebral spinal fluid leak near his right ear. Unfortunately, just one week later, on March 5, Mark experienced a brain hemorrhage while at home with his wife, Ann. She recalled that Mark began losing his balance before ultimately collapsing. He was immediately transported to the hospital, where he remained for an extended recovery period. Mark spent three months at a rehabilitation facility in Chicago, followed by another three months in Iowa, before finally returning home to continue outpatient therapy.
During his recovery, Mark reached out to the Nebraska Greats Foundation for assistance with home health care services and medical equipment. NGF was honored to step in and provide support during his time of need.
Beyond his time with the South Bend Silver Hawks, Haley had an extensive and accomplished coaching career. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee from 1987 to 1991, including a period as the recruiting coordinator and interim head coach. He then spent over a decade in the Chicago White Sox organization, coaching for several teams including the South Bend White Sox (1991-1992), Sarasota White Sox (1993), Hickory Crawdads (1994), Venezuelan Winter League (1994), South Bend Silver Hawks (1995), Prince William Cannons (1996), and Winston-Salem Warthogs (1997), where he managed for 49 games. He later returned to Winston-Salem (1999, 2001-2002), Birmingham Barons (2003), and Great Falls White Sox (2004) before joining South Bend for his final managerial role.
Throughout his storied coaching career, Mark Haley has had the privilege of working with over 120 players who went on to play in the Major Leagues — leaving a lasting legacy in the world of baseball. His knowledge, leadership, and passion for the game have impacted countless players, coaches, and communities.
The Nebraska Greats Foundation is proud to support Mark Haley during this time and is grateful for his lifelong dedication to athletics and player development. We wish him continued strength and healing on his road to recovery.
“I want to sincerely thank the Nebraska Greats Foundation for their generous support during my recovery from a brain injury. Your assistance has been a tremendous help to my family, allowing us to focus on healing without added financial stress. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you do for former athletes in need. Your impact is life-changing, and I will always be grateful.”
Sincerely,
Mark Haley
The Nebraska Greats Foundation remains committed to extending support to former and current athletes like Mark, who have contributed significantly to Nebraska's rich sporting history.
Any current and former letter-winning athlete from the four-year colleges and universities in Nebraska with a qualified medical condition and lack financial resources to meet their own needs are welcome to apply for support from the Nebraska Greats Foundation.
