Fulton High School baseball coach Buzz McNish got comfortable being uncomfortable early in his life. In fact, it’s a feeling he learned to love so much that he’s dedicated his career to it.

He credits that positive spark to Greg Ellis, his baseball coach during his senior year at Lenoir City High School. In Ellis turned a program with little practice and dedication from dead last to competing for a district championship in just one season. That fun feeling lasted until August of his college freshman year, where reality settled in as McNish continued playing baseball at Maryville College.

“When I reflected on how much my first three years of high school baseball had impacted me negatively and the issues it created for me athletically and academically in college, I wanted to make sure that never happened to anyone else,” said McNish “That’s what motivated me to get into education and coaching.”

After college, McNish returned to Lenoir City as an assistant before being named the head coach two years later. While resources were still sparse and facilities were far from extravagant, McNish made do with what he had and poured 13 years of hard work and labor to a program that ignited his love for baseball. Humbly, he credits the help of his assistant coaches to improving facilities, appearing in multiple regional tournaments, and even being in the top 10 programs in the state of Tennessee for a large portion of his tenure.

McNish again made a move in 2011, pivoting to West High School and yet another program that had been underappreciated, also one where he felt he could in turn transform as a labor of love. McNish took a 16-man roster in his first year and cultivated a culture of dedication and success, again putting West as one of the foremost programs in the state.

The trend continued in 2021, when McNish would seek another opportunity at Fulton High School where he currently continues to innovate and improve as the program has doubled in size since his arrival. Where others have lost hope, McNish continues to see opportunity.

While he’s hit a lot of milestones on the field, his favorite by far have come well after the ninth inning. McNish has coaching to thank for meeting his wife, who thankfully understands a lot of his quirks as a coach’s daughter herself. For his players, he enjoys seeing how they succeed once the cleats get hung up. He says he loved watching them turn into husbands, fathers, successful business owners and much more. He understands that baseball is his whole life, but for most, it’s only a small portion.

“Baseball is great, but that is just a very small part of their lifetime.” McNish said. “They will spend much more time living life, than they will playing baseball, so seeing them be successful is most important.”

McNish understands that being uncomfortable is a part of life, one that he seems to chase. It’s also a notion that he seems to instill in his players wherever he goes. For future plans, he says he wants to continue on the current path, as well as spending ample time with his wife and son.

Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for the KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts and culture in and around his hometown.Have a story for Adam? He can be reached at email  or text 865-919-5059 with your story idea.

Editor’s note: This story was referred to KnoxTN by a parent who had transferred into Fulton. He recounted the growth of Fulton’s baseball program since the arrival of McNish: “Three years ago the Fulton baseball program was on the doorstep of not being able to field a team. Coach Buzz McNish came on board and his first team had 13 players. Last year it had 15. This fall he has 31 kids that have come out to play. He has rebooted the program and will be able to have both JV and varsity teams.”