In five seasons as head football coach at the University of North Alabama, Mark Hudspeth has helped revive the Lion program and put UNA back on the map as a perennial force in the Gulf South Conference and the NCAA Division II.

In his first five seasons at UNA, Hudspeth has posted the best record of any previous Lion head coach in their first five years - leading the Lions to a 44-17 mark, two Gulf South Conference titles and three NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

Last season Hudspeth led UNA to an 11-1 record, a GSC title and a spot in the quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs. He was selected Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year for the second time by his peers and was also selected Region 2 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

In 2005, Hudspeth led a UNA squad that went 11-3 and reached the semifinals of the Division II playoffs for the second time in three years. Along the way the Lions broke 44 school and six Gulf South Conference records, with four Lions earning All-American honors. Lion receiver Anthony Merritt was also a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy and Lion offensive lineman Lance Ancar won the Rimington Trophy as the top center in Division II.

In just his second season as a collegiate head coach in 2003, Hudspeth fashioned one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NCAA Division II football history and led UNA within one game of playing for the national championship. Hudspeth became the seventh head football coach in UNA history in 2002 and inherited a program that had won three previous national championships and had been the winningest school in the state of Alabama in the 1980s and 1990s, but was riding a three-year losing streak.

The Lions went 4-7 in Hudspeth's first season, then kicked into high gear in 2003 with a 13-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals. Hudspeth's 2003 Lions won the school's seventh Gulf South Conference championship and became the first team in school history to win 11 regular- season games. For his efforts, Hudspeth was named GSC Coach of the Year in just his second season as a collegiate head coach. He was also selected NCAA Division II Region 2 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and was named National Coach of the Year by American Football Quarterly, Football Gazette and by CollegeSportsReport.com.

The Lions also had a school-record 13 players selected for the All-Gulf South Conference team, five players received All-American honors and and Lion quarterback Will Hall won the Harlon Hill Trophy as NCAA Division II Player of the Year. In 2003 the Lions broke 37 school records, three Gulf South Conference records and two NCAA Division II National records. In 2004 UNA spent eight weeks in the Division II Top 25 before finishing the season at 5-5. UNA climbed as high as No. 6 in the nation in the polls. Hudspeth now has a solid 33-16 four- year record that includes 16 games against nationally ranked opponents. The Lions are 11-5 in those games against ranked opponents.

Previous Coaching Experience:

Prior to coming to UNA he was the offensive coordinator at the United States Naval Academy in 2001.

He served as the offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach at Delta State University from 1999-2000. He helped lead the Statesmen to a Gulf South Conference Championship as well as an NCAA Division II National Championship in 2000. His offense broke 21 school records, 12 Gulf South Conference records, and six NCAA Division II records that year. The offense was led by Conerly Trophy winner Josh Bright.

In 1998-99, he was the defensive back coach and the strength and conditioning coach at the University of Central Arkansas.

Hudspeth served as the head coach at Winston Academy in Louisville, Mississippi from 1996 to 1998. He led Winston Academy to a 25-1 record over two seasons including an undefeated record in the regular season (20-0) and the conference (12-0). In 1997 he won the state championship with a perfect 14-0 record and his team led the state in scoring that year. He was named Mississippi Coach of the Year in 1997.  He won conference championships in 1996 and 1997.

In 1994-95 Hudspeth served as the wide receiver/tight ends coach and then the running back coach at Nicholls State University . He helped lead the team to a no. 5 ranking in NCAA I-AA in rushing.

Hudspeth was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Central Arkansas from 1992-93. He was the wide receiver and quarterback coach and assistant strength coach. He helped lead the Bears to an Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Championship with a 9-2-1 record. They reached the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs.

Playing Experience:

He was a four-year letterman at Delta State University from 1987-91. He was the starting free safety in 1990 and led the team in interceptions. In 1991 he was the starting quarterback.

Education:

Received his Master of Science in Education degree from Central Arkansas in 1993. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Delta State University in 1992.

Personal:

Born on November 10, 1968 in Montgomery, Alabama. He is married to the former Tyla McConnell, has one son, Gunner (11), and one daughter, Carley (8).

Overall Record: 54-19

At Home: 29-7

On the Road: 25-12

In NCAA Playoffs: 7-4

vs. Nationally Ranked Teams: 16-8

in GSC Games 38-14

vs. GSC Schools 42-16

vs. Non-Conference 10-3


HUDSPETH'S COACHING EXPERIENCE

1992 Graduate Assistant Central Arkansas - AIC Champions/NAIASemifinals
1993 Graduate Assistant Central Arkansas
1994 Assistant Coach Nicholls State
1995 Assistant Coach Nicholls State
1996 Head Coach Winston Academy (Miss.)
1997 Head Coach Winston Academy (Miss.) - State Champions
1998 Assistant Coach Central Arkansas
1999 Off. Coordinator Delta State
2000 Off. Coordinator Delta State - GSC Champions/NCAA Champions
2001 Off. Coordinator U.S. Naval Academy 
2002 Head Coach University of North Alabama
2003 Head Coach University of North Alabama - GSC Champions/NCAA Semifinals
2004 Head Coach University of North Alabama 
2005 Head Coach University of North Alabama - NCAA Semifinals
2006 Head Coach University of North Alabama - GSC Champions/NCAA Quarterfinals

HUD COACHING HONORS

2003

* Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year

* AFCA NCAA Division II Region 2 Coach of the Year

* American Football Quarterly NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year

* CollegeSportsReport.com NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year

* Football Gazette Division II National Coach of the Year

2006

* Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year

* AFCA NCAA Division II Region 2 Coach of the Year