Mark Snyder Biography

Mark Snyder, formerly the Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator and an alumnus of Marshall University's football program was introduced as Marshall's head football coach on April 14, 2005. "I am pleased that Mark decided to return to his alma mater and lead our football program into a new era," Marshall Director of Athletics Bob Marcum said at Snyder's hiring. "He brings a great deal of experience, enthusiasm, and a proven record of success at the highest levels of college football to Marshall."

The Snyder coached Marshal teams have set single game attendance records twice with season ticket and average attendance records re-written. Snyder's program has produced 29 all-conference selections, including 2006 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Albert McClellan.

It is fair to say the first four years of Head Coach Mark Snyder's tenure with the Thundering Herd have not produced the kind of results either he or Marshall Director of Athletics Bob Marcum were anticipating "on the field", some good things have happened "off the field" as a direct result of Snyder's leadership.

Snyder instilled in his team a strong commitment of giving back to the community as well as the importance of striving for academic excellence. Under his leadership, Marshall Football student-athletes have contributed nearly 1,000 hours of community service to worthy causes throughout the region. Marshall Players have volunteered their time in activities ranging from the Special Olympics and elementary school reading programs to youth football camps and Habitat for Humanity projects throughout Southern West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky and Southern Ohio. Two of his players - Jeff Mullins in 2005 and Ian O'Connor in 2006 - have been honored with prestigious Conference USA Post-Graduate Scholarships for academic excellence.

In Snyder's four years at Ohio State, the Buckeyes posted a 40-11 overall record with a 3-1 record in bowl games. They won both the 2003 and 2004 Tostitos Fiesta Bowls with a strong contribution from the defense. Snyder helped develop a number of outstanding players at Ohio State, including All-Americans Matt Wilhelm, Cie Grant, and A.J. Hawk. A.J.led OSU with 141 tackles and was the No. 5 overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Mark Snyder, after three seasons coaching the Ohio State linebackers, was given the opportunity to become the Buckeyes defensive coordinator prior to the 2004 season. His predecessor left behind a legacy of strong defense at OSU but head coach Jim Tressel was confident Snyder could continue this legacy.

Said Snyder upon being elevated to the defensive coordinator's position: I am extremely humbled and honored to be the defensive coordinator. I am grateful to Coach (Jim) Tressel for giving me this opportunity.

Snyder continued: We will continue to be an attacking type of defense that runs to the ball and puts pressure on whatever type of offense we are playing, he says. We will emphasize speed, sure tackling and playing with emotion.

Snyder, who following the 2003 season was highly sought after in college football ranks found the decision to stay at Ohio State not a difficult one said: "I am an Ohio guy and this is where I have always wanted to be. Besides, I am working for a terrific man, so I can't imagine a better situation."

When Head Coach Tressel hired Snyder as the Ohio State linebackers coach three seasons ago he said: "Mark is a terrific addition to our staff. He is an outstanding technician and an excellent recruiter. He was on my staff at Youngstown State and I have great admiration for him both as a person and as a coach. And I know, too, he is very, very excited about coming back to Ohio."

With the 2004 football season in the history books a look back at Ohio State's defensive record shows they finished the regular season ranked 37th nationally in total defense giving up a little over 336 yards per game. Defensively it appears the Buckeyes are poised for an excellent 05' season. It's reasonable to believe a lot of eyes will be on the Buckeye's defensive performance and the impact Snyder has on improving a pretty decent 2004 unit.

Snyder then went to the University of Minnesota as defensive ends coach under Head Coach Glen Mason. In his four seasons at Minnesota the Golden Gopher's defense twice set school records for number of sacks while averaging better than 40 sacks per season during a three season span. In his time at Minnesota Snyder helped develop the national leader in sacks for a season as well as a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Snyder left Minnesota to rejoin Tressel at Ohio State.

Snyder and up-and-coming Head Coach Jim Tressel first coached together at Youngstown State where Snyder was Tressel's linebackers coach for five seasons with the additional responsibility of special teams coordinator for two seasons. Tressel promoted Snyder to defensive coordinator in his final season at Youngstown State. In the course of Snyder's tenure at YSU he helped coach the Penguins to three national championships.

He continued his coaching career with the University of Central Florida Golden Knights. Snyder was a graduate assistant in his first season. He moved up to full time coach of the linebackers in his second season at UCF.

Snyder began his coaching career as a student assistant coach for the Marshall. After graduating he moved on to the UCF Golden Knights as a graduate assistant coach.

Snyder played his college football at Marshall University where as a senior he earned All-America defensive back honors. The Thundering Herd were runners-up in the Division I-AA National Championships that year.

Mark and his wife Beth, have three daughters: Chelsea, Lindsay and Shaylee.

Some of his accomplishments are: