Mark Powell is in his third season in charge of Austin Peay’s impressive linebacker corps.
After joining the Govs as a defensive coordinator in 2019, Powell moved to special teams coordinator for the spring 2021 season while remaining the team’s linebackers coach. In his first two seasons at Austin Peay, Powell has coached six All-OVC honorees, including two-time Consensus First Team All-American Kordell Jackson.
Powell began his career as a student assistant coach at Lafayette after an injury ended his playing career. He went on to serve on the coaching staffs at Yale and Villanova. The next season, Powell moved to Christopher Newport in 2017 where he was the Captains defensive line and special teams coach. Prior to joining the Governors staff he was a graduate assistant at Mississippi State. A 2014 Lafayette graduate, he saw his playing career cut short by an injury but remained with the team as a student assistant coach.
Powell is married to the former Stephanie Mooney.
POWELL’S CAREER SUMMARY
AUSTIN PEAY (2019-21)
2020: Was Governors defensive coordinator during the three-game fall campaign before moving into special teams coordinator role under head coach Scotty Walden for the spring 2021 portion of the schedule. Nickel back Kordell Jackson earned Consensus First Team All-America recognition for a second consecutive year while linebacker Jack McDonald earned First Team All-OVC honors.
2019: Hired as Governors defensive coordinator on Jan. 25, 2019. Behind consensus All-American nickel back Kordell Jackson and All-Ohio Valley Conference safety Juantarius Bryant as well as defensive linemen Josephus Smith and Shaun Whittinghill, the Govs ranked 12th among all FCS programs in total defense, permitting just 307.5 yards per game. Austin Peay was particularly adept at shutting down the running game, ranking eighth nationally while allowing only 104.1 yards per game.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (2018)
2018: Served as a defensive graduate assistant for a Mississippi State team that played in the Outback Bowl. The Bulldogs defensive unit was the only one in the country to finish in the top 10 of all four major defensive categories, ranking first in total defense (263.1 yards per game), second in scoring defense (13.2 points per game), second in rushing defense (95.0 yards per game) and seventh in pass defense (168.0 yards per game). Powell coached All-SEC performer Jonathan Abram.
CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY (2017)
2017: Powell served as special teams coordinator, defensive line coach and outside linebackers coach at Christopher Newport University in 2017 after spending the spring as a graduate assistant at Marshall. Coached two players who earned New Jersey Athletic Conference honorable mention all-conference honors.
VILLANOVA (2015-16)
2016: Moved to offensive assistant, coaching the Wildcats tight ends. Coached Third Team All-Colonial Athletic Association tight end Ryan Bell, who had 33 receptions for 434 yarda and seven touchdowns. Villanova was selected to play in the 2016 FCS Playoffs, winning a first-round game against Saint Francis.
2015: Joined the Villanova staff as a defensive assistant.
YALE (2014)
2014: Powell was a defensive and special teams assistant, where he coached future NFL player Foye Oluokun. The Bulldogs upset Army, 49-43, in overtime that season and finished the year with an 8-2 record.
COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER
An Orange, Connecticut native, Powell was recruited to play linebacker at Lafayette but a shoulder injury moved him into coaching and he was a student assistant for the Leopards in 2013 as part of a team that won the Patriot League and qualified for the FCS Playoffs. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lafayette in 2014.
