Mark Finley '02

Mark Finley, a proud member of the Class of 2002, earned varsity letters and was a multi-year starter for the Lancers in football, basketball, and baseball during his McDevitt career.

For the Lancers Baseball team, Mark was a varsity starter for three years, initially as a third baseman and then moving over to the demanding shortstop position for his junior and senior year. He was known for being an exceptional fielder, able to make routine plays but also used his speed and athleticism to make tough plays look routine. He was the recipient of six game balls during his junior and senior years, mostly for his fielding but also for a game winning two run, two out single to beat Archbishop Ryan. Mark had an OBP of over .400 during his senior year and provided positive team leadership as a team captain his senior year. For his efforts he earned All  Montgomery County Team honors as a senior.

In Basketball, Mark transitioned from a five-foot three point guard in his freshman year to a six foot small forward as a senior. As a junior, he came off the bench to help the Lancers, and, as a senior Mark started every game. He was the defensive stopper for the team. Always assigned to cover the top player on the opposing team. He was also a quality three-point shooter and scored in double figures in multiple games. Based on his basketball ability and his sportsmanship he was a winner of the Markwood Award his senior year. 

Mark’s best sport at McDevitt was football. He was a backup defensive back in his sophomore year on the 1999 championship team, and worked hard to become a two-way starter in his junior year as a tight end and defensive back on a team that was the PCL runner up. Mark received the team award for Iron Man in his junior year and came back even stronger as a senior. 

In Mark’s senior year, he was again a two way starter at WR and CB and the year started off with a bang when he snagged a pick six interception for the only touchdown as McDevitt beat LaSalle for the final time in the school's history. Mark continued to have an excellent year and served as team captain while earning team Co-MVP honors alongside Football Hall of Famer, Brian O’Meara. His senior season, he had a Catholic League leading and school record eight interceptions (12 overall in his career), and on offense he was the team's leading receiver, while also serving as a punt returner. For his efforts Mark earned All Catholic, All City, and All Montgomery County team honors and played in the Montgomery County All Star game.

At graduation, Mark received the United States Army Athletic award for the best male athlete in McDevitt’s Class of 2002.

Following McDevitt, Mark attended King’s College and graduated Cum Laude from the McGowan School of Business. He then served our country as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the US Army from 2006–2010. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service during deployment to Iraq in 2008-2009 with the 2-8 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, serving as a platoon leader for a mechanized infantry unit during the deployment.

In his community, Mark coached alongside the legendary Donald “Big Doc” Dougherty at St Genieve’s CYO for 10 years and then took over as head coach for 4 years following Big Doc’s retirement. He is currently coaching CYO basketball at St. Alphonsus where he has been for the past 12 years and he is a proud “soccer dad.”

Mark married a fellow Lancer 2002 classmate, Kerri Finley, who was a Royal Masque Lead. Mark and Kerri are the proud parents of five beautiful children, Matthew, Ryan, Julia, Joanna, and Mark, Jr.  He has three siblings who are all McDevitt graduates (Steve–class of 1998, Marybeth, class of 1999, and Megan class of 2001).  Mark’s father, Steve is also a proud McDevitt alum from the class of 1969 who coached basketball at McDevitt as well as serving as a past President of the school. Mark’s mom, Mary, is a proud graduate of Little Flower HS.

For the past 14 years, Mark has worked at United Safety and Survivability Corporation, which delivers safety systems for military, transit, and first responders. He  currently serves as General Manager of the US headquarters in Exton.

Please join me in honoring and welcoming Mark Finley,  Bishop McDevitt Class of 2002, to the Bishop McDevitt High School Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame.