Mark Criner
 Criner as Defensive Coordinator of the Idaho Vandals in 2012 | |
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
December 18, 1966 Fresno, CA |
| Alma mater | Boise State |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1991–1992 | Utah State (OLB) |
| 1993–2000 | Portland State (DC/LB/DB/ST) |
| 2001 | Las Vegas Outlaws (DC/DB) |
| 2002–2003 | Cincinnati (DC/LB) |
| 2004–2005 | Middle Tennessee (DC/S) |
| 2006 | Minnesota (LB/ST) |
| 2007–2012 | Idaho (DC/Assistant HC) |
| 2013 | Eastern Michigan (LB) |
| 2014–2015 | Lamar (LB) |
| 2016 | Rhode Island (LB) |
Mark Criner (born December 18, 1966) is a college football coach, and was hired as the linebackers coach at the University of Rhode Island in March 2016.[1] He was previously the defensive coordinator for six seasons at the University of Idaho, and also held the same position at Middle Tennessee, Cincinnati, Portland State, and the XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws. He has also worked as a defensive assistant at Minnesota, Eastern Michigan, Utah State, and Lamar.
Early life and playing career
Criner was born in Fresno, California. His father, Jim Criner, is a retired football coach with over 35 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience. Criner attended Iowa State University for one season in 1986 before transferring to Boise State University in 1987. At Boise State, he was a 4-year letter winner and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education in 1990.
Coaching career
Utah State
Criner began his coaching career in 1991 at Utah State, where he spent two seasons coaching Outside Linebackers under head coach Charlie Weatherbie.
Portland State
Following his tenure at Utah State, Criner coached at Portland State for eight seasons under head coach Tim Walsh. Criner served as Secondary Coach and Special Teams Coordinator from 1993–1995 and Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach from 1996–1999. During this time, Portland State made the NCAA Division II playoffs three times from 1993–1995 before transitioning to NCAA Division I-AA.
Las Vegas Outlaws
Criner left Portland State in 2001 to join the staff of the Las Vegas Outlaws, a member of the Xtreme Football League or XFL for short. The head coach of the Outlaws was Jim Criner, Mark Criner's father. Criner acted as Defensive Coordinator and Secondary coach of the Outlaws and lead the league in scoring, rushing, and total defense.[2]
Cincinnati
Following the folding of the XFL in 2002, Criner joined the Cincinnati football staff as Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach under head coach Rick Minter. Criner's defense ranked in the top 30 in both seasons he was with the Bearcats.
Middle Tennessee
Criner served as Defensive Coordinator and Safties coach at Middle Tennessee from 2004–2005 under head coach Andy McCollum.[3]
Minnesota
Criner spent the 2006 season at Minnesota as Linebackers Coach and Co-Special Teams Coordinator under head coach Glen Mason.[4]
Idaho
Criner was then hired to be the University of Idaho's Defensive Coordinator under head coach Robb Akey. Criner would ultimately serve in this position for six seasons. His tenure saw Idaho's first bowl game in 11 seasons in 2009.
Eastern Michigan
Following his stint at Idaho, Criner joined the staff of Eastern Michigan as Linebackers Coach for one season in 2013 under head coach Ron English.[5]
Lamar
For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Criner coached Linebackers at Lamar under head coach Ray Woodard. Lamar's 2014 squad ranked in the top 3 in the Southland Conference in total defense, red zone defense, sacks, 3rd down conversions, passing yards allowed, and fumble recoveries.
Rhode Island
Currently, Criner is the Linebackers coach at Rhode Island under head coach Jim Fleming.[6]
Personal life
Criner's father, Jim Criner, is a retired football coach with over 35 years of coaching experience. As head coach, his father won the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship and 1996 NFL Europe World Bowl. In 2001, Criner had the opportunity to work on his father's coaching staff with the XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws.
Criner's son, Calin, currently plays football at Eastern Washington University. Mark and his wife Angela have four children. Madison, Calin, Jackson and Brooklyn.
References
- ↑ http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-footbl/2016-17/releases/20160329kcoe7h
- ↑ http://www.all-xfl.com/lasvegasoutlaws/community/markcriner.shtml
- ↑ http://energy.goblueraiders.com/coach.cfm/name/mark-criner/id/99
- ↑ http://www.scout.com/college/minnesota/story/499391-minnesota-gophers-add-two-new-fb-coaches
- ↑ http://www.emueagles.com/news/2013/6/10/FB_0610135503.aspx?path=football
- ↑ http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-footbl/coaches/mark-criner00?view=bio