Nolan McCue has an easygoing, properly Southern way about him. He can narrate his life and legacy with a humble ease, so much so that it comes as a surprise to learn he was once a Chicago native — and still a die-hard Cubs fan.
“I grew up on the north side of Chicago,” Nolan said with a smile in his voice.
Baseball has always been part of his story. Like so many young athletes, his dream early on was to take it up a notch.
“My goal was always to play college baseball,” he said.
That goal eventually led him south to Cumberland University in Lebanon, where he built both a baseball career and a life in Tennessee.
Though he studied criminal justice in college, life eventually took him into the insurance industry. Still, baseball never drifted too far away. Today, Nolan works as a hitting instructor and coach, helping young athletes sharpen their skills and confidence at the plate.
“I’m a hitting instructor,” he said. “I give lessons to kids anywhere from 7 to 17.”
What started as a way to stay connected to the game slowly grew into something more meaningful.
These days, much of that baseball energy centers around his son, Brody.
Brody McCue, a 6-foot-1 sophomore heading into his junior year, already carries himself with the steady focus of an athlete who understands both the joy and discipline sports require. Recently, however, his baseball journey hit an unexpected hurdle when he suffered an injury while throwing, requiring a rare surgery and travel to Birmingham for treatment.
Recovery has gone well so far, though missing the second half of the season was difficult for someone who simply loves being around the game.
“I’m happy just to be on the field,” Brody said.
Still, like his dad, he has bigger plans for the game.
“The goal is to play college ball in general,” he said.
Like many student-athletes, Brody understands success takes work far beyond the baseball diamond. Though he maintains a solid 3.2 GPA, he admits academics do not always come as naturally as being on the field.
“There are some classes where I have to bust my butt off,” he said.
Fortunately, dedication is something baseball has already taught him well.
The game has also strengthened the relationship between father and son. Brody currently plays at Friendship, where Nolan serves on the coaching staff. For Brody, combining family life with baseball life has been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.
He describes his teammates as “a second family,” making it even more special to have his dad alongside him in the dugout.
When asked how Nolan sees the game differently as a coach, Brody laughed and said his father is busy thinking through plays and outcomes.
“He was just there, always planning a step ahead,” Brody said.
Despite Brody’s height advantage, nobody in the family seems entirely sure where it came from. Nolan stands at 5-foot-7, while Brody’s mother, Jenny, is 5-foot-2. Nolan jokes that there aren’t many towering relatives back in Chicago, and Jenny insists she has no explanation either.
Baseball may be Brody’s biggest passion, but it is not the only sport shaping him as an athlete. He also plays football, something he believes has strengthened both his body and his mindset on the baseball field.
Through football, Brody said he learned to honor “the grind.”
The demanding practices, conditioning, and physical nature of the sport further ingrained in him discipline and resilience — qualities that have become especially important during his recent recovery from shoulder surgery.
Brody feels football has helped improve his strength and conditioning, ultimately making him a better baseball player. More importantly, it reinforced the value of hard work and consistency, lessons he carries with him into the classroom, the weight room, and every inning he plays.
That mindset fits naturally within the McCue family culture — one built around showing up, working hard, and appreciating the opportunity to compete together.
Baseball may be the shared thread running through the McCue family story, but what stands out most is not statistics or championships, or even height. It is the steady, easy support they offer one another.
Nolan and Jenny have encouraged their children to pursue what truly makes them happy — whether that means chasing baseball dreams or simply enjoying the game for what it is. Nolan talks about his daughter’s softball journey, knowing her future options are wide open.
“She likes it,” he said, speaking of softball.
“She’s also got the brains,” Brody piped up, complimenting his younger sister.
At the center of it all is a shared appreciation for hard work, family, and the simple joy of being part of something bigger than yourself — whether that is a team, a community, or a father-son bond built one inning at a time. GN
