Football
- Title:
- Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
- Email:
- coachhagen@GoCards.com
Mark Hagen, a respected defensive line coach who has worked in the ACC, SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 during his more than 40 years in the profession, is in his third season as the Louisville co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
In his first two seasons, Hagen oversaw the continued development of defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte — a 2025 third-round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Under Hagen’s guidance, Gillotte registered 15 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss over a two-year span, including a league-leading 11 sacks in 2023. Gillotte earned first team All-ACC honors and was a second team All-American. Â
Hagen’s knowledge and experience helped the Cards rank 10th nationally in rushing defense, limiting the opposition to less than 100 yards per game on the ground.
Before joining the Louisville staff, Hagen was the co-defensive coordinator, along with Ron English, for a Purdue defense that showed consistent and steady improvement. The 2022 team finished in the top 20 in interceptions with 15 and the Boilermakers allowed 142.5 yards per game and held four opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground.
Returning to West Lafayette in 2021, Hagen made an immediate impact on the Purdue defense. The Boilermakers surrendered 22.4 points per game, ranking 34th in the country, to improve upon their No. 67 ranking from the 2020 campaign (29.8 ppg). Purdue’s defense also found the top 25 in red zone defense (23rd - .756). Focusing on the defensive line, Hagen guided George Karlaftis to All-America and First Team All-Big Ten honors.
In Hagen’s first stint at Purdue, the Boilermakers appeared in seven bowl games during his tenure, including the 2001 Rose Bowl and the 2004 Capital One Bowl.
During his former time in West Lafayette, Purdue’s defense saw 18 members selected in the National Football League Draft over the years – including first-round picks Ryan Kerrigan (2011) and Anthony Spencer (2007), second-round selections Kawann Short (2013), Mike Neal (2010) and Bernard Pollard (2006) and third-round draftees Alex Magee (2009), Cliff Avril (2008), Stuart Schweigert (2004), Gilbert Gardner (2004) and Landon Johnson (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), most recently 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 year with the defensive tackles. His first full-time coaching job was at Northern Illinois from 1996-99.
A native of Carmel, Indiana, Hagen was a four-year letterwinner at Indiana (1987, 1989-91), two-time Second Team All-Big Ten selection, three-time Academic All-Big Ten winner, 1992 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient and a captain at linebacker.
 As a linebacker with the Hoosiers, Hagen led the team in tackles for three straight years (1989-91) and was the team’s Balfour Award recipient in 1991 for bringing distinction and honor to the university. He is tied for fifth in Hoosiers’ history with 336 career tackles. While with the Hoosiers, Hagen played in four bowl games, including the 1991 Copper Bowl, where he was named the game’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. He graduated from Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1991 and earned a master’s in sport marketing and management in 1995.
 Hagen and his wife, Denise, have four daughters – Abby, Emma, Ellie and Ava.Â
