{"id":2569,"date":"2026-07-29T00:01:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T04:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/cedarville-stories\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2026-07-28T08:59:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T12:59:12","slug":"s15-e05-mark-scharnberg-building-more-than-basketball-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/cedarville-stories\/2026\/s15-e05-mark-scharnberg-building-more-than-basketball-players\/","title":{"rendered":"S:15 E:05 | Mark Scharnberg: Building More Than Basketball Players"},"content":{"rendered":"

Building More Than Basketball Players<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark Scharnberg, a 1997 Cedarville University<\/a> graduate, has built successful businesses throughout his career. Today, one of the projects closest to his heart isn’t measured by profits; it’s measured by the impact on the lives of young athletes.<\/p>\n

On the Cedarville Stories<\/em> podcast, Mark describes Iowa United as more than a basketball prep school. He envisions it as a place where gifted young athletes receive the kind of coaching and development that prepares them for the changing world of college basketball. Competing in the EYBL Scholastic league places Iowa United alongside the nation’s top programs, giving students an opportunity to hone their skills alongside elite competition.<\/p>\n

For Mark, however, the scoreboard has never been the whole story.<\/p>\n

He wants every athlete who joins Iowa United to leave as a stronger player. Even more, he wants each young man to become a person of character who understands what it means to follow Christ.<\/p>\n

That mission begins with presence. Mark and his wife, Janet, have moved into the Iowa United facility so they can share daily life with the students. They eat meals together, celebrate victories, work through disappointments, and have countless conversations that would never fit into a practice schedule. They open their home, their time, and their lives because they believe lasting influence grows out of genuine relationships.<\/p>\n

Mark has watched those relationships change young men. Some arrive with remarkable athletic ability but need someone to believe in them. Others need patient guidance as they mature. As trust grows, attitudes begin to change, and confidence takes root. Mark has seen players leave Iowa United ready for high-level college basketball, yet he finds even greater joy when they leave with stronger character and a clearer understanding of faith.<\/p>\n

Living together accelerates those relationships. By the time graduation arrives, many of the players feel like members of the Scharnbergs’ extended family.<\/p>\n

Saying goodbye is never easy, as every student feels like family. But Mark hopes those players will one day return to encourage the next generation, creating a cycle of investment that stretches far beyond basketball.<\/p>\n

He also sees another future taking shape. Just as earlier generations of the Scharnberg family built businesses that became platforms for serving others, Mark hopes Iowa United will become a place where his own children can one day serve alongside him. His vision reaches well beyond wins and championships. He wants to build something that shapes lives for Christ and continues long after the final buzzer sounds.<\/p>\n