Mark Orphey, who has nine years of collegiate coaching experience, is in his second season as Utah State’s secondary coach.
As Utah State’s secondary coach in 2019, Orphey (Or-Fay) helped four defensive players earn all-Mountain West honors, including safety Shaq Bond, who was named to the honorable mention team. Bond finished the season with a team-best three interceptions, while fellow junior safety Troy Lefeged Jr. led the team with 104 tackles.
Orphey also helped Utah State’s defense force 24 turnovers (13 fumbles, 11 interceptions) in 2019 to rank second in the Mountain West and 15th in the nation. In fact, USU’s 13 fumble recoveries were tied for fifth nationally and led the MW.
At season’s end, Orphey helped Utah State to its 14th bowl game all-time, including its eighth in the past nine seasons, as it played in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.
Orphey came to Utah State after spending two seasons (2017, 2018) as the secondary coach at Montana State.
During the 2018 season, Orphey helped the Bobcats to an 8-5 record, including a 5-3 mark in the Big Sky Conference, and an appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2014. MSU also advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
In 2018, Bobcat defensive backs produced nine interceptions and six forced fumbles under Orphey’s guidance, and the Cats finished in the top half of the league in interceptions (12), passing yards allowed (213.5 yards per game) and passing efficiency defense (124.16).
In his first year at Montana State in 2017, Orphey molded a youthful group of cornerbacks into a secondary that finished fifth in the Big Sky Conference in pass defense, allowing 239.5 yards per game.
During his two seasons at Montana State, Orphey coached four players to all-conference honors in safety Jahque Alleyn (2018), cornerback Greg Filer (2018), safety Brayden Konkol (2018) and safety Bryson McCabe (2017).
Prior to Montana State, Orphey spent four seasons at South Carolina, serving as a quality control assistant (2013) and defensive graduate assistant (2014-16). With the Gamecocks, Orphey helped the team to three bowl games (2013 Capital One Bowl, 2014 Independence Bowl, 2016 Birmingham Bowl) and the team’s third-straight 11-win season in 2013. South Carolina also earned two of its 12 all-time bowl wins during Orphey’s time there.
During his four seasons at South Carolina, Orphey coached four players to all-conference honors in Chris Lammons (2015), Al Harris Jr. (2015), Brison Williams (2013) and Victor Hampton (2013).
Orphey began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater as the cornerbacks coach at Texas Southern. During his two seasons with the Tigers, he mentored Tray Walker to all-conference and All-America honors in 2012, and Jerome Thomas to all-conference honors in 2011.
Orphey was a three-year starter at cornerback at Texas Southern, earning all-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior (2009-10).
A native of Houston, Texas, Orphey graduated from Texas Southern in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned his master’s degree from South Carolina in 2015 in health information technology.
Mark Orphey File
Coaching History:
2019- – Utah State – Secondary
2017-18 – Montana State – Secondary
2014-16 – South Carolina – Graduate Assistant
2013 – South Carolina – Quality Control
2011-12 – Texas Southern – Cornerbacks
Bowl Games (4):
Utah State (1) – Frisco, 2019
South Carolina (3) – Birmingham, 2016; Independence, 2014; Capital One, 2013
FCS Playoffs (1):
Montana State (1) – 2018 (Second Round)
Playing Experience:
2007-10 – Texas Southern – Cornerback
Education:
2015 – South Carolina – Health Information Technology (M.S.)
2010 – Texas Southern – Business Administration