Mark Mangino Position: Assistant Head Coach Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line

Mark Mangino has been part of a turnaround at nearly every level of college football. In his first season at OU he quietly molded the University of Oklahoma offensive line into one of the best in the Big 12 Conference. The term quietly is only used because offensive lineman usually just get noticed when there are penalties or quarterback sacks. In one season under Mangino, penalties and sacks have been a rare occurrence for the Sooner linemen.

In the first 11 games with Mangino at the helm, the Sooner offensive line paced the Big 12 Conference with just 13 sacks allowed in 512 passing opportunities. Spearheading the improvement was center Matt O’Neal and tackle Stockar McDougle who each earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 1999. O’Neal garnered his all-conference honor after playing 99 percent of the offensive snaps (802 plays) with just one penalty and no sacks. McDougle, on the other hand, finished ’99 as one of most improved players on the line with four sacks allowed and five penalties.

As far as heading up the OU running attack, Mangino worked side-by-side offensive coordinator Mike Leach to produce the perfect compliment to the Sooner air attack. On the year, OU running backs gained 1,295 yards and scored 18 touchdowns while being called on just 35 percent of the time.

Mangino came to Norman last January after completing his eighth and most successful season at Kansas State University. Holding the same title at KSU, Mangino had the longest tenure of any of K-State assistant coach under Bill Snyder. He was named the assistant head coach at the beginning of the 1998 season, but also served as the running game coordinator and offensive line coach. He also coordinated K-State’s recruiting efforts.

Under his guidance, the Kansas State running game improved yearly. In 1998, KSU finished 10th nationally and third in the Big 12 Conference in rushing offense. In 11 regular season games, the Wildcats set new school standards for rushing yards (2,521), rushing average (229.2 ypg) and rushing touchdowns (41). The 41 rushing touchdowns were also the most by a Big 12 team in the ’98 season.

Mangino, 43, joined the K-State staff in 1991 after serving as the head football coach at Ellwood City (Pa.) High School for one year. Prior to that, he spent three seasons (1987-89) as the offensive coordinator at Geneva (Pa.) College, where he helped the program to its three best seasons in school history (24-9) and the 1987 NAIA national semifinals. He also coached two seasons (1985-86) as an assistant coach at Youngstown State and four years (1981-84) as an assistant coach at his alma mater, New Castle (Pa.) High School, which is one of the winningest program’s in America.

Mangino and his wife, Mary Jane, are the parents of two children, Samantha and Tommy.

The Mangino File

• Birthdate: August 26, 1956
• Hometown: New Castle, Pa.
• High School Education: New Castle High School
• College Education: Youngstown State (1987)
• Martial Status: Married to the former Mary Jane Fiorante. They have two children, Samantha (17) and Tommy (14).

Coaching Experience