Mark Elder was chosen as Eastern Kentucky’s 14th head coach in December of 2015. He concluded his four-year tenure with an overall record of 21-24. EKU went 15-16 against Ohio Valley Conference teams.
After four straight top-25 rated recruiting classes the Colonels went 7-4 in 2018, their first winning season under Elder. EKU’s 5-2 conference mark put the team third in the OVC standings, the highest conference finish under Elder’s guidance.
The Colonels finished fifth in the nation in interceptions in 2018, 26th in the country in rushing, allowed the second fewest points per game in the OVC and were second in the league in total defense. After being thrust into action late in the season, Parker McKinney became the first true freshman quarterback in program history to throw for 300 yards in a game.
Eastern won seven games again in 2019 (7-5), but fell to fourth place in the OVC with a 5-3 league record.
Defensively, EKU was second in the OVC in points allowed, second in total defense, second in rushing defense and third in passing defense in 2019. Eastern Kentucky was fifth in the nation in third down defense, seventh in fourth down defense, 11th in red-zone defense, 15th in rushing defense, 16th in total defense and 22nd in scoring defense. Aaron Patrick was selected as the 2019 OVC Defensive Player of the Year, was a first team All-American and a finalist for the national defensive player of the year award.
Offensively, the Colonels led the OVC and finished 20th in the country in rushing in 2019. Daryl McCleskey Jr. ranked 10th in the country with 1,238 rushing yards while Alonzo Booth was 16th in FCS football with 14 rushing touchdowns. Offensive lineman Tucker Schroeder received honorable mention for the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Team.
Despite having less than two months to put together his first recruiting class, after being hired in mid-December, Eastern’s 2016 class was ranked as the 23rd best in the nation. With more time to spend scouting future Colonels, Elder’s second recruiting class was rated as the 14th best in the country.
The 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes were ranked 11th nationally.
The results of improved recruiting began showing on the field in 2017. The Colonels went on the road and put a scare into a pair of FBS teams that would go on to play in bowl games. At Western Kentucky, EKU closed to within 10 twice in the second half and drove to the WKU six yard line as time expired in the fourth quarter of a 14-point loss. Eastern led for nearly three quarters at Kentucky before the Wildcats staged a comeback.
The Colonels concluded the 2017 season with three wins in their final five games.
In his second year as head coach the defense showed strong improvement under Elder. The Colonels allowed their opponents 62 fewer yards and four fewer points per game. An improved rushing defense allowed 571 fewer yards on the ground than the year before. The passing defense improved as well, by 112 yards. EKU ranked first in the league and eighth in FCS with 13 fumbles recovered. The Colonels were second in the Ohio Valley Conference and 38th nationally in sacks (2.36/g).
Offensively in 2017, quarterback Tim Boyle threw for 2,134 yards, the fifth most ever in one season in program history. As a team, EKU led the OVC in passing and completion percentage. On special teams, Eastern ranked first in FCS football in kickoff returns and second in net punting.
In the classroom during Elder’s tenure, the team posted two of the top-three fall GPA’s, and the second-highest spring GPA, of any EKU football team on record. Quarterback Tyler Swafford earned the 2016 Doris Robinson FCS Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. As a team, Eastern Kentucky had one of the three highest graduation rates of any team in the conference. Linebacker Jeffrey Canady was chosen Academic All-District twice. In addition, three players were chosen as semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, recognizing the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Samuel Hayworth and Graham Ashkettle were chosen as Academic All-Americans in 2019. The Colonels also set a program record with 637 hours of community service during the 2017-18 academic year.
The team excelled in several areas during Elder’s first season as head coach.
The offense fired on all cylinders in scoring 67 points against Austin Peay, tying a school record set in 1925. Not only did Eastern Kentucky lead the OVC in net punting and punt return defense, the team ranked third and fourth in the nation in those categories. Eastern led the conference, and was sixth in the country, in fumbles recovered. The Colonels finished the season among the top-45 in the nation in total offense and passing offense. On special teams, EKU led the conference and ranked ninth in the nation with an average of 23.62 yards per kickoff return.
Before coming to Eastern Kentucky, Elder served as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Tennessee from 2013 to 2015.
The Cincinnati native helped lead a revitalization of Volunteer football. He helped UT to a 9-4 record in 2015 and a second place finish in the Southeastern Conference East Division with a 5-3 mark. It was Tennessee’s first winning record in SEC play since 2007. The Volunteers beat Northwestern in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Elder helped the University of Michigan reach bowl games as a defensive graduate assistant in 2005 and 2006. He then joined the staff at Central Michigan University. Elder coached the Chippewa linebackers for three seasons (2007-09). During that time, CMU qualified for three bowl appearances and won two Mid-American Conference Championships.
Before the 2010 season, Elder joined the University of Cincinnati staff as the tight ends coach. He also coached running backs, safeties and special teams at various times. The Bearcats won two Big East Conference Championships and made two bowl appearances in three seasons.
In 2015, Elder’s guidance helped Tennessee’s Evan Berry lead the nation, and break the school record, with an average of 38.3 yards per kickoff return. Cameron Sutton led the country with an average of 18.7 yards per punt return.
While coaching the running backs at Cincinnati in 2011 Elder tutored Isaiah Pead, the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and the first Bearcat in nearly 25 years to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
In three seasons at Central Michigan, Elder produced an all-conference linebacker each year. He worked with All-Big Ten linebackers David Harris and Shawn Crable at Michigan.
Elder also served as the defensive coordinator at Wayne State (2004) and Iona (2003). He was assistant coach at Lehigh in 2002 and a graduate assistant with Akron in 2000 and 2001.
Elder graduated cum laude with a degree in economics from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio in 2000. He earned a master’s degree in education in sports science and coaching from Akron in 2001. He and his wife Lindsey have two sons – Owen and Ellis – and one daughter – Lila.
Mark Elder Year-By-Year
| Year |
School |
Position |
Notes |
| 2000 |
Akron |
Defensive Graduate Assistant |
MAC East Co-Champions |
| 2001 |
Akron |
Defensive Graduate Assistant |
|
| 2002 |
Lehigh |
Asst. Linebackers Coach |
18th nationally scoring defense |
| 2003 |
Iona |
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach |
1st winning season since 1993 |
| 2004 |
Wayne State |
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach |
|
| 2005 |
Michigan |
Defensive Quality Control |
Alamo Bowl |
| 2006 |
Michigan |
Defensive Graduate Assistant |
Rose Bowl |
| 2007 |
Central Michigan |
Linebackers Coach/Punt Return Coach |
MAC Champs, Motor City Bowl |
| 2008 |
Central Michigan |
Linebackers Coach/Punt Return Coach |
Motor City Bowl |
| 2009 |
Central Michigan |
Linebackers Coach/Punt Return Coach |
MAC Champs, won GMAC Bowl |
| 2010 |
Cincinnati |
Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends |
|
| 2011 |
Cincinnati |
Running Backs Coach/Punt Return Coach |
Big East Champs. won Liberty Bowl |
| 2012 |
Cincinnati |
Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs |
Big East Champs, won Belk Bowl |
| 2013 |
Tennessee |
Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends |
|
| 2014 |
Tennessee |
Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends |
won TaxSlayer Bowl |
| 2015 |
Tennessee |
Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends |
won Outback Bowl, 1st nation KOR |
| 2016 |
Eastern Kentucky |
Head Coach |
23rd rated recruiting class |
| 2017 |
Eastern Kentucky |
Head Coach |
14th rated recruiting class |
| 2018 |
Eastern Kentucky |
Head Coach |
#11 recruiting class, 7-4, 3rd OVC |
| 2019 |
Eastern Kentucky |
Head Coach |
7-5, 4th in OVC |
