Mark Hagen Named Defensive Line Coach/Defensive Run Game Coordinator
February 12, 2026 | Football
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Mark Hagen will join the Oregon State football program as the Defensive Line Coach/Defensive Run Game Coordinator, Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard announced Thursday.
"Coach Hagen has been an elite coach on the defensive line from the moment that he stepped on the field as a coach," Shephard said. "He brings a wealth of experience from various institutions and conferences across college football to Corvallis and can develop at a high level regardless of where the team sat in the conference. We welcome Coach Hagen as a former coordinator and elite defensive line coach."
Hagen, who has 34 years of coaching experience at the college level, was previously at the University of Louisville the past three seasons as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He has also coached at Purdue, Texas, Indiana, Texas A&M and Northern Illinois.
"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 appointment is contingent on the completion of all university hiring processes.
Hagen helped lead the Louisville defense to one of the best in the nation against the run, limiting its opponents to less than 100 yards rushing per game. Defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte was named Second Team All-American and First Team All-ACC in 2023 after recording 11 sacks. Gillotte was selected in third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Prior to Louisivlle, Hagen was the co-defensive coordinator at Purdue in 2021 and 2022. He made an immediate impact in 2021, helping the Boilermakers defense allow 22.4 points per game, ranking 34th in the country, to improve on their No. 67 ranking from the 2020 campaign (29.8 ppg). Following the season, George Karlaftis earned All-America and First Team All-Big Ten honors.
In 2022, the Purdue defense finished in the Top 20 nationally in interceptions (15) and held four opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground.
Hagen had his first stint at Purdue in 2000, working with the defensive tackles from 2000-05 and again in 2008. He oversaw the linebackers room from 2006-07 and 2009-10, served as special teams coordinator from 2003-08 and as assistant head coach under Joe Tiller from 2005-08.
During that time in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers appeared in seven bowl games, including the 2001 Rose Bowl and 2004 Capital One Bowl.
From 2000-04, the Boilermakers ranked third, third, fourth, third and second in the Big Ten in rushing defense. They were 46th in the nation in 2000, 34th in 2001, 23rd in 2002, 10th in 2003 and 14th in 2004.
Hagen served as associate head coach for the defense and defensive line coach at Texas during the 2020 season.
Prior to Texas, Hagen coached four seasons at Indiana (2015-18) as the Hoosiers' co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. It was his third stint in Bloomington, having served as an assistant for two seasons (2011-12) and getting his collegiate coaching career start there as a graduate assistant and administrative assistant (1992-95).
Hagen also spent three years (2013-15) at Texas A&M, working for two seasons with Aggies' linebackers and the final season with the defensive tackles. He served as the team's defensive coordinator in the 2014 AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory over West Virginia
His first full-time coaching job was at Northern Illinois from 1996-99, coaching the defensive tackles and managing camps and clinics.
Hagen was a four-year letterwinner at Indiana (1987, 1989-91) as a linebacker and led the team in tackles in each of his final three years, finishing his career with 336 tackles, tied for the fifth most in program history. He played in four bowl games, including the 1991 Copper Bowl, where he was named the game's Most Valuable Defensive Player.
During his time with the Hoosiers, Hagen was a two-time Second Team All-Big Ten selection, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten winner, the 1992 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient and a Balfour Award recipient in 1991 for bringing distinction and honor to the university
He graduated from Indiana with a bachelor's degree in marketing in 1991 and earned a master's in sport marketing and management from Indiana in 1995.
Hagen and his wife, Denise, have four daughters – Abby, Emma, Ellie and Ava.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
"Coach Hagen has been an elite coach on the defensive line from the moment that he stepped on the field as a coach," Shephard said. "He brings a wealth of experience from various institutions and conferences across college football to Corvallis and can develop at a high level regardless of where the team sat in the conference. We welcome Coach Hagen as a former coordinator and elite defensive line coach."
Hagen, who has 34 years of coaching experience at the college level, was previously at the University of Louisville the past three seasons as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He has also coached at Purdue, Texas, Indiana, Texas A&M and Northern Illinois.
"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 appointment is contingent on the completion of all university hiring processes.
Hagen helped lead the Louisville defense to one of the best in the nation against the run, limiting its opponents to less than 100 yards rushing per game. Defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte was named Second Team All-American and First Team All-ACC in 2023 after recording 11 sacks. Gillotte was selected in third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Prior to Louisivlle, Hagen was the co-defensive coordinator at Purdue in 2021 and 2022. He made an immediate impact in 2021, helping the Boilermakers defense allow 22.4 points per game, ranking 34th in the country, to improve on their No. 67 ranking from the 2020 campaign (29.8 ppg). Following the season, George Karlaftis earned All-America and First Team All-Big Ten honors.
In 2022, the Purdue defense finished in the Top 20 nationally in interceptions (15) and held four opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground.
Hagen had his first stint at Purdue in 2000, working with the defensive tackles from 2000-05 and again in 2008. He oversaw the linebackers room from 2006-07 and 2009-10, served as special teams coordinator from 2003-08 and as assistant head coach under Joe Tiller from 2005-08.
During that time in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers appeared in seven bowl games, including the 2001 Rose Bowl and 2004 Capital One Bowl.
From 2000-04, the Boilermakers ranked third, third, fourth, third and second in the Big Ten in rushing defense. They were 46th in the nation in 2000, 34th in 2001, 23rd in 2002, 10th in 2003 and 14th in 2004.
Hagen served as associate head coach for the defense and defensive line coach at Texas during the 2020 season.
Prior to Texas, Hagen coached four seasons at Indiana (2015-18) as the Hoosiers' co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. It was his third stint in Bloomington, having served as an assistant for two seasons (2011-12) and getting his collegiate coaching career start there as a graduate assistant and administrative assistant (1992-95).
Hagen also spent three years (2013-15) at Texas A&M, working for two seasons with Aggies' linebackers and the final season with the defensive tackles. He served as the team's defensive coordinator in the 2014 AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory over West Virginia
His first full-time coaching job was at Northern Illinois from 1996-99, coaching the defensive tackles and managing camps and clinics.
Hagen was a four-year letterwinner at Indiana (1987, 1989-91) as a linebacker and led the team in tackles in each of his final three years, finishing his career with 336 tackles, tied for the fifth most in program history. He played in four bowl games, including the 1991 Copper Bowl, where he was named the game's Most Valuable Defensive Player.
During his time with the Hoosiers, Hagen was a two-time Second Team All-Big Ten selection, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten winner, the 1992 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient and a Balfour Award recipient in 1991 for bringing distinction and honor to the university
He graduated from Indiana with a bachelor's degree in marketing in 1991 and earned a master's in sport marketing and management from Indiana in 1995.
Hagen and his wife, Denise, have four daughters – Abby, Emma, Ellie and Ava.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
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