University of New Haven Athletics

Mark Powell enters his first year as the head football coach at the University of New Haven in 2025. Powell's track record of defensive success will continue at New Haven, where he will oversee the team's defensive unit. A New Haven product, Powell gained an up-close view of the world of coaching football from a young age as his grandfather coached at Yale University for 32 years. 

Powell's expertise helped Mississippi State earn the top defensive unit in the country in 2018. The Bulldogs reached the Outback Bowl, and under Powell's guidance, the Bulldogs defensive unit was the only one in the country to finish in the top 10 of all four major defensive categories, ranking first in total defense (263.1 yards per game), second in scoring defense (13.2 points per game), second in rushing defense (95.0 yards per game) and seventh in pass defense (168.0 yards per game). Powell coached All-SEC performer Jonathan Abram. 

Prior to joining the Chargers, he spent time at Fordham University, where he helped the school reach its first nine-win season and FCS playoff appearance since 2015. Among teams in the Patriot League, Fordham's defense ranked first in sacks and third down defense. It also ranked second in tackles for loss and in the top 25 in the country in both sacks and interceptions. 

From 2019-2021, Powell spent time at Austin Peay State University where he coached the linebackers in addition to being the defensive and special teams coordinator. The Governors won the OVC in 2019 and ranked first in the conference in yardage defense rushing defense, pass defense, and scoring defense. 

Powell also spent time at Christopher Newport University, where he coached the defensive line and outside linebackers along with being the special teams coordinator, Marshall University, where he was the defensive graduate assistant, Villanova University, where he coached tight ends, Yale University as a defensive assistant, and his alma mater, Lafayette College, where he was a defensive assistant.

Coach Powell graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, PA, where he played linebacker at for three years, with a bachelor's degree in history in 2014. He earned his master's in education from Mississippi State University in May 2021. Mark and his wife Stephanie have two sons, Hunter and Mason.