Mark Nelson
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers

Mark Nelson was named Defensive Coordinator on January 9, 2012. He returned home to the Eskimos mid-season in 2010 to assume the duties of linebackers coach.  The Edmonton native brings with him 24 years of coaching experience at both the professional and college levels including three years with the Eskimos as Special Teams Coordinator (’92-’94), linebackers coach (’92) and running backs coach (93-’94).  

The former CFL player spent the 2009 season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.  Prior to making his way North to Winnipeg, Mark spent 12 years with a number of teams within the NCAA including a three-year stint at Baylor (’03-’05) where his special teams units ranked among the nation’s leaders in various categories.  He also has been on the coaching staffs of the University of Louisville (’07-’08), Tulsa (’06), Kentucky (’01-’02), Arkansas Tech (2000) and Valdosta State (’97-’99).  Under his tutelage at Valdosta State, Mark’s defences ranked among the best in the Gulf State Conference each year and ranked 13th nationally in 1998.  

Nelson broke into professional football coaching with the Eskimos in 1992 and won a Grey Cup with the team in 1993.  He left the Green and Gold to join the San Antonio Texans for the 1995 season before heading back up North of the border to serve as the defensive line coach with the Toronto Argonauts in 1996 where he won his second Grey Cup Championship.  

Prior to joining the CFL, Nelson spent five years (’87-’91) coaching at Independence Community College.  A 1980 graduate of East Central Oklahoma, Mark went on to a career in the CFL, playing for the Calgary Stampeders (1980-’85) and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (’86).  

He and his wife Lori have three children: sons Kyle and Kolton and daughter Kayli.  


Mark Nelson's Coaching History:

2012 - Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2010-11 – Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) – Linebackers Coach
2009 - Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach
2008 - Louisville (NCAA, Division I) – Special Teams Coordinator
2007 - Louisville (NCAA, Division I) – Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach
2006 - Tulsa (NCAA, Division I) – Assistant Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach, Special Teams Coach
2004 – 2005: Baylor (NCAA, Division I) – Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers Coach
2003 - Baylor (NCAA, Division I) - Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Ends Coach
2002 - Kentucky (NCAA, Division I) – Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Ends Coach
2001 - Kentucky (NCAA, Division I) – Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends Coach
2000 - Arkansas Tech (NCAA, Division II) – Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach
1997 – 1999: Valdosta State (NCAA, Division II) – Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach
1996 - Toronto Argonauts (CFL) – Defensive Line Coach
1995 - San Antonia Texans (CFL) – Linebackers Coach
1993 – 1994: Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) – Special Teams Coordinator, Running Backs Coach
1992 - Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) – Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers Coach
1990 – 1991: Independence CC (Community College Conference) – Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator
1988 – 1989: Independence CC (Community College Conference) – Defensive Line Coach, Linebackers Coach
1987 - Independence CC (Community College Conference) – Defensive Line Coach
1986 - Choctaw High School – Defensive Line Coach, Special Teams Coordinator