Coach Edwards has over 24 years of basketball coaching experience at the high school, AAU/Travel, and grassroots levels. During this span, he has worked with a wide variety of players and ability levels, ranging from elementary school players to the development of major college prospects (and all levels in between). He first began his coaching career in 1986 while living in his hometown of Chicago, IL. He implemented basketball training programs at St. Anne's Elementary (Chicago) and Country Club Hills Park District (Illinois). Upon moving to the Atlanta Area, Coach Edwards played in instrumental role in the development of the Centennial High School Basketball Program. He helped implement and direct Centennial's feeder program as well as coaching the varsity summer and fall teams as a community coach. All three of his sons played varsity basketball at Centennial (with son Joshua graduated in 2004 as the schools All-Time leading scorer and rebounder). Coach Edwards is still currently active in the Centennial program as head coach of the middle school feeder team.
At the AAU/Travel Ball Level, Coach Edwards' teams have experienced tremendous success at both a state and national level. This success includes numerous state titles and several Top 10 National Finishes at various age divisions. From 2002 through 2005, Coach Edwards played an instrumental role as co-coach and organizer of the Georgia Warriors AAU Program. During that time period, the Warriors established themselves as one of the top high school aged AAU Teams in the Southeast United States. Over a four season span, the team compiled a record of 96 wins versus only 34 losses while playing in many top tournaments throughout the country. Highlights during that era included a Top 16 Finish at the 2002 (16U) AAU National Tournament, being ranked as one of the nation's Top 25 (17U) Teams in the nation in 2003, and placing 3rd in the nation in the National Classic Bracket of the 2005 (17U) AAU National Tournament. Over 95% of the players coached by Edwards during this span went on to play college basketball. Four former players are currently playing Professional basketball in either the NBA or in Europe.
After a four year hiatus (in which Coach Edwards two oldest sons graduated college); the Warrior program was re-implemented during the 2010 season under the new name of the F.C.I. Warriors. Despite being a new program in their inaugural season, the FCI Warriors realized some good success, earning a bid to the 17U Division I National Tournament, and also winning the championship title at two (2) tournaments. Coach Edwards is enthusiastic about the outlook of the FCI Warrior program and having the opportunity to assist Atlanta Area players reach their potential on and off the court.
Mark Edwards is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, where he was a scholarship recipient letterman in Track and Field. He currently resides in Roswell with his wife Stacia and is the proud father of three sons, Mark (26), Joshua (24), and Jacob (18).
