Football
- Title:
- Outside Linebackers
- Email:
- Mark.criner@usm.edu
- Phone:
- 266-5393
Mark Criner joined the Golden Eagle staff in 2021 and returns for his third season as the outside linebacker coach.
Criner's 2022 season featured top marks for the linebacking corps as the Nasty Bunch once again finished the year as one of the nation's best units. The Golden Eagles finished ranked 44th in scoring defense (23.5) and within the top 25 in turnovers forced (No. 24), blocked punts (No. 14), blocked kicks (No. 5), sacks (No. 4) and tackles for loss (No. 2). Criner's unit included Southern Miss' TFL leader, Averie Habas, with Santrell Latham finished second in total tackles and Daylen Gill second in solo tackles, respectively.
In his first campaign for Southern Miss, Criner helped the Golden Eagles rank No. 42 nationally in total defense (385.5), along with being ranked Top 10 in the country defensively in first downs allowed (No. 2), fumbles recovered (No. 4), red zone defense (No. 6), defensive touchdowns (No. 7) and also ranked No. 15 in turnovers gained and No. 24 in passing yards allowed.
One of his players, Santrell Latham, earned C-USA honorable mention and led the squad in forced fumbles with four to go along with a pair of fumble recoveries.
Criner came to Southern Miss after his last stop as linebackers and assistant special teams coach for the Seattle Dragons of the XFL in 2020.
Previous to that, Criner worked as a defensive analyst for Tulane in the fall of 2019, after serving as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football during the spring.
In 2018, Criner served as a defensive analyst for LSU, where the Tigers compiled a 10-3 record and finished No. 6 in the Associated Press poll.
Criner was the defensive coordinator at CSU-Pueblo in 2017 where they went 9-3 and captured a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship. The team led the RMAC in total defense (270.3) and scoring defense (14.4).
In 2016, Criner worked as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at University of Rhode Island.
He has coached in three bowl games, which includes a win at the Humanitarian Bowl in 2009 with University of Idaho. While at University of Cincinnati, Criner’s 2002 defense ranked 21st nationally in total defense, while the 2003 squad was 27th.
Prior to his season at URI, Criner was the linebackers coach at Lamar for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He helped guide the Cardinals to an eight-win season, which was the most in program history since 1974. The linebackers helped the defense rank first in the Southland Conference in fumble recoveries (sixth nationally), second in fewest passing yards allowed and third in total defense, red zone defense, sacks and third down conversions.
Criner’s longest stints came at Idaho from 2007-12 and Portland State University from 1993-99. At Idaho, he served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Under his tutelage, the Vandals ranked third in rushing defense in the Western Athletic Conference in 2009, which helped them to a bowl win against Bowling Green. He also helped Idaho move up the ranks nationally in pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and rush defense. At Portland State, Criner helped the team to three straight NCAA Division II Playoff appearances from 1993-95.
He has professional experience coaching the Las Vegas Outlaws (2000) of the XFL and additional collegiate experience at Utah State (1991-92), Cincinnati (2002-03), Middle Tennessee (2004-05), Minnesota (2006) and Eastern Michigan (2014).
Criner started his collegiate playing career at Iowa State University (1986) before transferring to Boise State University (1987-1990). He completed his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Boise State in 1990.
His father, Jim Criner, won a Division I-AA national title at Boise State in 1980 and an NFL Europe World Bowl title with the Scottish Claymores in 1996.
Criner and his wife, Angie, have four children, Madison, Calin and twins Jackson and Brooklyn.
