Former Leon athletic director, head football coach Mark Feely passes away at 58
Mark Feely, a veteran educator and former athletic director and football coach at Leon High, passed away Sunday morning following a lengthy battle with cancer.
He was 58.
Feely retired from Leon High less than two month ago after nearly 40 years in the school system. He was known for his genuine, unbridled passion for Leon.
Former Florida High head football coach Mike Hickman shared an emotional post on Feely's passing Sunday via Facebook.
"In my mind, there has never been a better or nicer person than Mark. He set the standard for class and integrity and professionalism in the fields of education and athletics," Hickman said in the Facebook post.
"I will miss my friend and will always cherish our working relationship and friendship. I am glad Mark’s suffering is over and May God Bless his wonderful family."
Beat the odds
Feely was diagnosed in 2009 with an incurable blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. Doctors gave him 37 months to live.
While Feely easily beat those odds, he suffered numerous health issues related to cancer over the years. He underwent dialysis three times a week (3.5 hours each session) due to kidney failure.
In the spring of 2021, Feely underwent the amputation of his left leg below his knee due to circulatory issues. That was among the challenges Feely always seemed to face with humor.
“My son Drew says the good news is it wasn’t my kicking leg, so I have that going for me,” Feely, a former All-State football player at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, said in a previous interview with the Democrat.
Feely was again recently hospitalized and was under hospice care at his home.
Shelton Crews, the veteran executive director of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, and Feely coached together at Godby and have been friends for nearly 40 years.
Crews called Feely the “toughest guy, bravest, most courageous” he knew.
“Things are so surreal right now,” Crews said from Daytona Beach for the FACA Summer Clinic.
“Mark was the life of the party, very energetic, funny. The thing I can remember when left Godby for Leon, he embraced the traditions and history of Leon – to me, that’s important. He embraced it, he embodied it. He never put or cared about himself. He always put everyone else first.”
Successful family tree
Feely hailed from a family of educators and coaching - his parents taught together for over 30 years. The pair also attended Florida State.
Feely's father Eddie was a Hall of Fame football coach/athletics director at Merritt Island High, which beat Leon High in the 1972 state title game in Doak Campbell Stadium.
Mark Feely joined his father in the FACA Hall of Fame six years ago.
Ricky Bell, Leon Country’s former athletics director (2002-2020), was on the selection committed that hired Feely as Leon’s AD in 2003. He commended Feely's communication and leadership skills and his family's background in education.
“Mark was just so dedicated to the profession,” Bell said. “He was never willing to settle for second best. Mark always came to our (AD meetings) with new, fresh ideas. He always wanted what was best for everyone. That’s what I always enjoyed about Mark.”
Bell, whose son Riley played football at Leon under Feely and succeeded him as AD, also pointed out Feely’s ability to calmly and gracefully deal with the difficult issues he faced related to cancer.
“The courage he exhibited. If Mark was in pain, he didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him,” Bell said.
“That shows the great character he had.”
Feely graduated from Florida State in 1987 before coming to Leon in 1999, where he spent time as a physical education teacher, assistant football coach, head football coach, and head golf coach.
In 2003, he became the third athletic director of Leon High School, joining the likes of Gene Cox and Jimmy Sauls.
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He also spent time on Godby's football coaching staff during the mid-80s.
'Huge love for Leon'
Feely retired from the athletic director position at Leon on May 26, 2022.
During his tenure, Leon won 91 district trophies, 47 regional titles, and nine state championships.
This past year, Feely oversaw the hiring of Tyrone McGriff as Leon's first Black head football coach.
"He literally lived to work for others," McGriff said. "A great man."
Among his closest friends was Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna. Hanna is a graduate of Leon High and a former principal at the school.
"Our community and our school district lost one of the really good guys today," Hanna said.
"Mark, and his tenacity to live life to its fullest, was a true inspiration to everyone who knew him. In addition to taking care of his family and friends, Mark's purpose in life was to use athletics as a vehicle to turn young boys and girls into mature, confident, and responsible young men and women."
"The world is a better place because Mark Feely lived. He truly made a difference for the thousands of young people he encouraged, inspired, and loved. Job well done my dear friend! To paraphrase Dr. Seuss "don't cry because it's over, smile because Mark Feely happened."
Riley Bell is hopeful he can carry on Feely's legacy at Leon as the school's AD.
"He has been a part of my life since I was a freshman in high school," Bell said.
"He taught me so many things. His outlook, he truly only focused on what’s important. That’s probably the most important lesson I learned from him. I called him all the time, for everything. He always had an answer and knew what to say.
"He's going to be missed."
Family important to Feely
Family was especially important to Feely.
Feely and his wife Candace celebrated 32 years of marriage in February. The couple has four children - Ashlynne, 31, Eric, 28, Ryan, 26, and Drew, 21 - and two grandchildren.
"My wife has always been there. From pushing me in a wheelchair, taking me to get X-rays, to being in a hospital with me. She's always been supportive," Feely said in an interview with the Democrat earlier this year.
"My mom has also made herself a part of the support team. She follows me around with hand sanitizer and rosary beads. With support like this, it's easy to see why I've achieved. Having them give me strength helps me do everything."
Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Leon athletic director, head football coach Mark Feely passes away
