Mark Rhea begins his fifth season at Portland State. This year, he will move back to coaching his specialty, defensive line. He also serves as Assistant Head Coach, managing team travel and recruiting efforts.
In previous seasons, Rhea has worked as Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach and Linebackers Coach. His players have won six All-Big Sky Conference awards.
As a co-Defensive Coordinator in 2023, he led the defense to marked improvement. The Vikings cut opponent total offense by 59 yards per game, and scoring by 4.4 points per game. After allowing 288.8 passing yards in 2022, the Vikings dropped that number to 226.3 in 2023.
Rhea had a successful first season in 2021, maximizing the efforts of a veteran defensive line. Defensive end VJ Malo earned All-Conference by compiling the most tackles for loss and sacks by a Viking in the program’s Big Sky Conference history. Defensive tackle Semise Kofe also earned honorable mention All-Big Sky.
In 2022, defensive tackles earned second team All-Big Sky honors while Malo was honorable mention despite missing three games. His starting group compiled 114 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
BACKGROUND
Rhea has experience coaching on the same staff as Viking Head Coach Bruce Barnum at the United States Coast Guard Academy (1996-97) and Idaho State (2000-06).
Rhea worked at Western Carolina from 2010-19, primarily as defensive line coach, assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator. Among his other stops were as defensive line coach at his alma mater, Toledo (2006-08), Idaho State (2000-06) and Austin Peay (1997-2000). The 2002 Bengal football team was a Big Sky Conference co-Champion.
Among notable players that Rhea has either recruited or coached are Jared Allen, Julian Edelman, Evan Dietrich Smith and JP Bekasiak, the number four pick in the 2007 CFL Draft. More recently, linebacker protégé Jayden Pauling of Western Carolina led the nation in forced fumbles (5 in 2019).
Rhea is a 1992 graduate of the University of Toledo. He was a four-year starter at defensive end. Upon completion of his career, Rhea was among Toledo’s all-time leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. Toledo was the Mid-American Conference co-Champion in 1990 and Rhea was named Outstanding Defensive Lineman in 1991.
THE MARK RHEA FILE
4th year at Portland State
Hometown:Â Beavercreek, OH
Alma Mater: Toledo, 1992, BS, Athletic Administration
Playing Experience:Â Toledo, 1987-92, defensive end
Family: Wife, Stacey; daughter Madeline (18)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-24 Â Â Â Â Portland State, co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line (2023-24)/Defensive Line (2021-22)
2010-19 Â Â Â Â Western Carolina, Defensive Line/Assistant Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/OLBs (2019)
2009 Â Â Â Â Tiffin University, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2006-08 Â Â Â Â Toledo, Defensive Line
2006 Â Â Â Â Kent State, Defensive Line
2000-06 Â Â Â Â Idaho State, Defensive Line
1997-99 Â Â Â Â Austin Peay, Defensive Line/Linebackers
1996 Â Â Â Â United States Coast Guard Academy, Defensive Line
1994-95 Â Â Â Â Michigan State, Graduate Assistant
1992-93 Â Â Â Â Toledo, Administrative Assistant (1992)/Graduate Assistant (1993)
ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCEÂ VIKINGS UNDER MARK RHEA
2021
2nd team: VJ Malo, DE
Honorable Mention: Semise Kofe, DT
2022
2nd team: EJ Ane, DT
Honorable Mention: VJ Malo, DE
2023
2nd team: Dino Kahaulelio, DT
