Founder: The Marcus Nettles Project
Marcus Nettles is a South Side Chicago native with an extensive background in baseball, mentoring, law enforcement, and fundraising. Nettles was raised in a structured middle-class household on the South Side of Chicago with his older sister, Jill Nettles. His Mother is a retired educator for the Chicago Public School system and his Father is a military veteran and retired law enforcement officer. Nettles played baseball throughout his childhood with the South Side Little League and Jackie Robinson West organizations. Nettles represented the United States at the Junior Pan Am games in 1993 and 1995 and won a silver and gold medal respectively. Marcus attended Whitney Young High School and played 4 years of Varsity baseball under IHSBCA Hall of Fame coach, Chris Cassidy. Nettles was recognized by Baseball America as the fastest and one of the Top 50 high school players in the nation. His game changing speed, athletic ability, and outstanding play earned him a baseball scholarship to the University of Miami-FL where he won two National Championships. In 2001, Nettles was drafted in the 11th round by the San Diego Padres and continued his baseball career at the professional level for 9 years.
After almost a decade of playing professional baseball, Nettles transitioned into Law Enforcement and worked in several different specialized units. In 2017, he founded The Marcus Nettles Project with the vision of providing resources and leveling the playing field for the underserved Chicago baseball community. Subsequently, Nettles kick started the Austin Youth Police Baseball League on Chicago's Westside, with the assistance of volunteer off duty police officers from the Chicago and Illinois State Police departments. Due to lack of resources and manpower, the league was discontinued after two seasons.
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Nettles continued to motivate and inspire youth by hosting an annual youth baseball clinic on Chicago's North, East, West, and South Side with the participation of community leaders, law enforcement officers, and former professional baseball players. To help reduce the financial burden, Marcus garnered support from companies such as Imperial Crane, Northwestern Medicine, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinios, and the American Heart Association. Marcus continued to add to his portfolio and partnered with Magnus Data, and Jennifer Ford, Founder of Perfect Game Cares and Rise to Greatness Foundation, to capture in game metrics and host no cost combines, helping student athletes with their athletic resume.
Marcus continues to work as a compliment to local organizations to help provide resources and modern technology in underserved communities.
Accolades
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​2023 - Jackie Robinson West Dedicated Volunteer Award
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2021 - American Red Cross Hero Award Nominee
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2018 - Joe Black Humanitarian Award & U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General's Distinguished Service Nominee
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2017 - Austin Police Youth Baseball World Changer Award
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1995 - Jr. USA Pan Am Gold Medal
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1993 - Jr. USA Pan Am Bronze Medal
2012 - Current
Law Enforcement
Over a decade of serving the public and enhancing law enforcement engagement efforts through community service and youth programming in underserved areas.
2001-2009
Professional Athlete
11th round draft pick in the Major League Baseball Amateur draft by the San Diego Padres and a 2005 Rule V Draft pick by the Washington Nationals. Competed in the Mexican Summer League, Atlantic League, and various Independent baseball leagues.
1999 - 2001
University of Miami-FL
Attended the University of Miami-FL and won two College World Series National Championships in 1999 & 2001 and earned a degree in Business Administration.