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 | Position:
Assistant Coach
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| Alma Mater:
Wake Forest, 1988
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Mark Cline recently completed his second year as an assistant coach at Marshall University.
With Cline's assistance in 2012, Marshall went 21-14 and earned a bid to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) for the first time in 24 years. The Herd also made the Conference USA Championship game for the first time in school history and the first team to do so as a No. 6 seed.
Coached by Cline, forward Dennis Tinnon ranked 23rd in the nation in rebounds with 10.0 per game. Tinnon's average was the most by a Herd player in 10 years. He also earned a spot on the All-Conference USA Defensive Team and the C-USA All-Tournament Team.
"I am really excited to have Mark join our staff and basketball family at Marshall University," said MU head coach Tom Herrion at the time of Cline's hiring. "Mark has a wealth of experience and he will be a valuable asset in every aspect of our program. I have known Mark for a long time and the fact that we can bring him back to his roots is an added bonus. Mark is a great ambassador for the state of West Virginia and it is great to bring him home. We are glad to have Mark and his family join the wonderful Marshall community."
Originally from Williamson, W.Va., Cline returned to the "Mountain State" in 2011 after spending the previous four seasons on the staff at Oklahoma. Jeff Capel's first hire upon arriving at OU, Cline helped guide the Sooners to an 82-51 record, two NCAA Tournaments, a 2009 Elite 8 appearance, and a No. 2 national ranking during his stint in Norman.
Cline was as an assistant coach for Virginia Commonwealth under Capel and helped VCU compile a 61-31 record from 2003-2006 which included a trip to the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Cline's relationship with the Capel family dates back to his days as an assistant coach at Fayetteville State where he served under Capel's father, Jeff Capel Jr., from 1989-93. Cline helped convert the Broncos from a team that finished at the bottom of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Southern Division to one of the top programs in the league. He also served as the head men's golf coach at Fayetteville State and was twice named CIAA Golf Coach of the Year.
He transitioned with Capel Jr., to North Carolina A&T for the 1993-94 season, a year that saw the Aggies claim the Mid-Eastern Athletic Association championship and make an NCAA Tournament appearance. Cline followed Capel, Jr., to Old Dominion where he spent five seasons with the Monarchs. He helped ODU reach the NCAA Tournament in 1995 and 1997. In 1999, the Monarchs tied a school record for wins with 25 and were rewarded with an NIT bid. Cline moved from Old Dominion to Virginia Tech where for four years (1999-2003) he served as an assistant and associate head coach.
Cline enjoyed an outstanding playing career at Wake Forest from 1983-1987 (the same span as Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues) and was a four-year starter. He finished his career with 1,202 points to rank 17th on Wake's all-time list. He averaged double figures over his final three seasons and served as a co-captain the last two. The Demon Deacons advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight his freshman season. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater during the 1988-89 campaign.
The two-time West Virginia High School Player of the Year who earned McDonald's, Parade and Street & Smith's high school All-America honors, Cline shot .414 from 3-point range during his collegiate career.
Cline, who graduated from Wake Forest in 1988, and his wife Nancy have a daughter, Layla.
