Mark Hagen Brings Decades of Defensive Line Expertise to Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State is adding a seasoned veteran to its coaching ranks. Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard announced that Mark Hagen will join the Beavers as Defensive Line Coach and Defensive Run Game Coordinator - a hire that brings over three decades of experience and a strong track record of building elite defensive fronts.
“Coach Hagen has been an elite coach on the defensive line from the moment he stepped on the field,” Shephard said. “He brings a wealth of experience from various institutions and conferences across college football and can develop at a high level regardless of where the team sat in the conference.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Hagen’s résumé speaks for itself - 34 years in the college game, with stops at Louisville, Purdue, Texas, Indiana, Texas A&M, and Northern Illinois. He’s coached in nearly every major conference and has consistently helped his units outperform expectations, particularly against the run.
At Louisville, Hagen helped mold one of the nation’s stingiest run defenses over the past few seasons. The Cardinals gave up fewer than 100 rushing yards per game, a number that puts a defense in elite company.
His work with defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte was especially noteworthy. Gillotte racked up 11 sacks in 2023, earning Second Team All-American and First Team All-ACC honors before being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
That kind of development - from college standout to NFL-ready - is exactly what Oregon State is banking on as it reshapes its identity under Shephard.
Hagen’s impact has been immediate at multiple stops. Look back at his time at Purdue in 2021: the Boilermakers trimmed their points allowed per game from 29.8 in 2020 to just 22.4 - a jump from 67th to 34th nationally. That same year, future first-rounder George Karlaftis earned All-America and First Team All-Big Ten honors under Hagen’s guidance.
And in 2022, Purdue’s defense continued to make noise, finishing in the top 20 nationally in interceptions and holding four teams under 100 rushing yards. That’s the kind of consistency and disruption Hagen is known for - tough, disciplined fronts that make life miserable for opposing offenses.
Of course, his ties to Purdue run deep. Hagen’s first stint in West Lafayette began in 2000, and over the next decade, he wore a lot of hats: defensive tackles coach, linebackers coach, special teams coordinator, and even assistant head coach under Joe Tiller. During that era, Purdue played in seven bowl games, including the 2001 Rose Bowl - a clear sign of a program that was consistently competing at a high level.
And the run defense numbers during that stretch? Impressive.
From 2000 to 2004, Purdue ranked in the top four in the Big Ten in rushing defense every year. Nationally, the Boilermakers climbed from 46th in 2000 to a top-10 finish in 2003.
That kind of sustained success doesn’t happen by accident.
Hagen’s coaching journey has also included a stint as associate head coach for defense at Texas in 2020, and multiple runs at Indiana, where his connection to the program runs deep. Not only did he coach there, but he also played linebacker for the Hoosiers, leading the team in tackles for three straight seasons and finishing with 336 career stops - tied for fifth-most in school history.
His playing days were decorated as well. Hagen was a two-time Second Team All-Big Ten selection, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and the 1992 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient - a prestigious award recognizing excellence in both athletics and academics. He capped his college career by earning Defensive MVP honors in the 1991 Copper Bowl.
Hagen’s coaching career began shortly after, with his first full-time role at Northern Illinois in the late '90s. From there, he steadily climbed the ladder, building a reputation as a coach who gets the most out of his players - whether he’s working with linebackers, defensive tackles, or overseeing entire units.
“I’m honored and thankful to be a part of JaMarcus Shephard’s initial staff at Oregon State University,” Hagen said. “Oregon State has a proud football history, and I’m excited to get started in Corvallis.”
The hire is pending the completion of standard university hiring processes, but once finalized, it’s a major step forward for a program looking to re-establish its identity in the trenches. With Hagen on board, Oregon State is adding not just experience, but a proven track record of producing results - and players - at the highest level.
Hagen and his wife, Denise, have four daughters: Abby, Emma, Ellie, and Ava.