Norfolk State University Athletics

Mark Thurston returns to NSU for his second stint as the Spartans’ defensive line coach.

Thurston originally joined the Spartans’ staff under former coach Pete Adrian in 2005 as assistant offensive line and tight ends coach. One year later, he was promoted to defensive line coach, where he worked with some of the top defensive units in the country over the next nine seasons. In his final season at NSU (2014), NSU ranked second in the nation in total defense and he mentored two All-Americans, Lynden Trail and George Riddick.

Trail, a three-time FCS All-American, became the first Spartan to ever be invited to the Senior Bowl. He later played with the Washington Redskins (now Commanders).

NSU also ranked in the top 15 nationally in total defense each year from 2009-14. Thurston coached at least one All-MEAC performer seven of his last eight years at NSU while serving as a key recruiter for NSU in Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and south Florida.

Following his first stint at NSU, Thurston was the defensive quality control coach at the University of Toledo in 2015. From 2016-17, he was assistant director of scouting at Iowa State, then shifted to serving as quality control coach/defensive line for the Cyclones in 2018 and 2019. He helped mentor two of the top three sack leaders in Cyclone history, Jaquan Bailey and Will McDonald.

Most recently, Thurston was defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Lake Erie College in 2021. He coached an all-conference defensive end that season and Lake Erie ranked first in the conference in pass defense.

Thurston was a three-year letterwinner at West Virginia University from 1997-99. He played rush linebacker and started his first two years for the Mountaineers. He earned his liberal arts degree in 2003.

Thurston coached one year of semi-pro football with the West Virginia Wham! of the Mid-Ohio Valley League. He directed the defensive line and special teams.

Thurston then went to Miami Norland High School, where he coached the defensive line and special teams from 2003-04. There, he coached four defensive ends who earned Division I scholarships, including former Spartan Jason Dent. The others played at Miami (Fla.), Rutgers and North Carolina. Another of those four, Richard Gordon, was a sixth-round NFL draft choice and played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Thurston is a native of Miami, Florida. He was an all-county and all-state defensive end at Miami Senior High in the mid-1990s. He was a USA Today Honorable Mention All-American as a senior before attending West Virginia.

Thurston has one daughter, Jada, and one son, Major.