Mark Theophel joined the Hartwick football staff as the defensive backs coach in 2014. He was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in May of 2015.
Theophel came to Oyaron Hill from Becker College where he was a member of the staff from 2010-2014. Among his various titles there was strong safeties coach, co-special teams coordinator, co-defensive coordinator, and inside linebackers coach.
His accomplishments with Becker included coordinating a defensive unit that ranked atop the conference in tackles for losses and sacks in 2013. For two seasons, he coached linebacker Melvin Booker, who finished his career as Becker’s all-time leader in tackles, tackles for losses, and sacks. On the special teams end, Theophel helped coach a punt return unit that ranked atop the conference in blocked punts and average yards per return in 2013.
Theophel is no stranger to ’Wick as he was member of the Hawks from 2006-2009. He was a part of the 2007 team which earned a Co-Empire 8 Championship and qualified for the NCAA playoffs. In 23 games, he totaled 54 tackles (28 solo, 20 assisted). His best season came in his senior year when he tallied 48 tackles, (28 solo, 20 assisted), one tackle for a loss, a half sack for a loss of six yards, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick. Theophel was selected to the 2009 Empire 8 Conference Sportsman of the Year Team.
Theophel graduated in 2010 from Hartwick with a degree in Business Administration. He was a two-time member of the Dean’s List while with the Hawks.
