Mark Elder was relieved from his coaching duties this afternoon after his team finished the season 7-5. Under Coach Elder the Colonels were 21-24 and 15-16 in four seasons. The Colonels never finished higher than 3rd in the Ohio Valley Conference and didn’t advance to the FCS playoffs.
Mark Elder was hired December 8, 2015 replacing Dean Hood as the 14th Head Coach in EKU history. Elder came to Eastern from Tennessee where he helped lead the Volunteers to a bowl game.
Mark Elder came to EKU as one of the nations best recruiters. In 2014 he was recognized as one of the top 50 recruiters in the nation and in 2015 was one of the top 25 recruiters in the country. While at EKU his recruiting classes were all Top 25 with his best class in 2018 and this season’s class at 11th best in the country.
His career records at EKU were
2016 3-8 (2-6) 8th in OVC
2017 4-7 (3-5) 5th in OVC
2018 7-4 (5-2) 3rd in OVC
2019 7-5 (5-3) 4th in OVC
MARK ELDER WILL NOT RETURN AS EKU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
RICHMOND, Ky. – Mark Elder will not return as Eastern Kentucky University’s head football coach, Interim Director of Athletics Mark Sandy announced today.
Elder’s contract will expire in December. In four seasons as head coach, Elder compiled a record of 21-24. He went 15-16 against Ohio Valley Conference teams.
“On behalf of the university and athletics department, I want to thank Mark for his hard work, diligent effort and contributions to EKU football,” Sandy said. “We all wish Mark and his family nothing but the best.”
A search for Eastern Kentucky’s next head football coach will begin immediately.
