With two national championships, 21 Ohio Valley Conference titles and 21 NCAA playoff appearances, the Eastern Kentucky University football program is accustomed to success.
Under Mark Elder’s guidance, the program returned to where it belongs in 2018 – seven wins, a top-3 conference finish and in the running for a spot in the playoffs.
After four straight top-25 rated recruiting classes re-stocked the Colonel roster with a talented young core, Elder saw player development efforts pay dividends on the field this past season.
In addition to finishing with the most wins in a season since 2014, and having won 10 of their last 16 games, the Colonels finished fifth in the nation in interceptions in 2018, 26th in the country in rushing, averaged a touchdown more per game than a season ago, 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.
The physical and mental development of the team was on display throughout the season. The Colonels began the season with strong performances against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. Eastern Kentucky trailed Marshall by just seven points in the third quarter and led Bowling Green until late in the fourth quarter. EKU played four games decided by seven points or less and won three of them. In addition, Eastern committed the second fewest penalties and had the second fewest penalty yards in the OVC.
Elder has also driven dramatic facility improvements in his three seasons as head coach. The program now has a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning center that includes an indoor turf area and the second-largest nutrition bar in all of college athletics. The Moberly Building, home of EKU football, underwent a remodel and now includes a team room with theatre seating, and new graphics and signage throughout the complex, highlighting the program’s past and its present.
The crown jewel of the facilities revitalization project opened in the fall of 2017. The new east side of Roy Kidd Stadium features a brand new team locker room with a team lounge, equipment room and a game day training area. The expansion project added over 3,000 new seats and a new concourse with modern concession facilities.
“I’m excited, blessed and honored for the opportunity to lead one of the most tradition rich programs in college football,” Elder said. “It didn’t take me long to realize that this is a special place. Lindsey and I have truly enjoyed becoming a part of the EKU and Richmond community.”
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. This class featured 20 players that received all-state honors, including the No. 17 overall FCS recruit in the nation, Sean Cleasant.
The 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes were ranked 11th nationally. Both classes were ranked higher than such programs as Jacksonville State, James Madison, Montana and Illinois State.
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. Eastern Kentucky’s margin of defeat against two FBS bowl teams was just 12.5 points.
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.
Improvement under Elder hasn’t been limited to the field. In the classroom, the team has 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 has 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, two players were chosen as semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, recognizing the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. The Colonels also set a program record with 637 hours of community service during the 2017-18 academic year.
“It is humbling to have the opportunity to lead the same program that legendary coach Roy Kidd built into a national powerhouse,” said Elder. “It’s important to me that we maintain the standards, both on and off the field, which coach Kidd established during his Hall of Fame career.”
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.
Elder was chosen as EKU's head football coach on Dec. 8, 2015. He had served as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Tennessee since 2013.
Elder is the 14th head coach in program history.
Over his final 11 seasons as an assistant coach, Elder helped his teams reach nine bowl games and win four conference championships. In 2014 he was ranked as one of the top-50 recruiters in the nation. In 2015 he was recognized as one of the top-25 recruiters in college football.
The Cincinnati native helped lead a revitalization of Volunteer football. He helped the 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 |
|
