Mark Orphey (or-fay) is in his third season as the Rutgers cornerbacks coach in 2024. The Houston native has helped the Scarlet Knights to one of the top passing defenses nationally while developing players for the NFL. He arrived in Piscataway after spending the 2021 season as a senior defensive analyst for national runner-up Alabama. Orphey has been part of six bowl games and the FCS playoffs, in addition to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
• The defense in 2023 helped Rutgers to its first winning season since 2014 and a victory in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. The unit ranked 16th nationally in total defense (313.5), posting its best mark and ranking for a season in the Big Ten era. RU limited 10 opponents under 30 points, five under 20 points and three in single digits to rank No. 32 nationally in scoring defense (21.2). In addition, Rutgers ranked 10th nationally in passing defense (176.3) and 15th in red zone defense (75.6 percent), posting 11 stops. In Big Ten play, Rutgers posted its best marks for total defense (337.9) and scoring defense (25.1) in a conference season since joining the league.
• DB Robert Longerbeam and DB Max Melton, the two starting cornerbacks, were voted honorable mention All-Big Ten. Longerbeam was one of two Big Ten players with at least 10 pass breakups, ranking fourth in the league with 0.85 passes defended per game, while Melton posted a team-high three interceptions as the No. 11-ranked cornerback in the conference by
Pro Football Focus. Melton earned an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round, the highest RU pick since 2010.
• In 2022, Orphey helped the defense improve by allowing 46.7 less yards per game compared to 2021, 28.1 less passing yards and 18.6 less rushing yards. The Scarlet Knights posted their best mark in total defense (349.8) in 10 years at the time.
• The Scarlet Knights saw two cornerbacks earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in DB Christian Braswell (third in the Big Ten with 1.17 passes defended per game) and Melton (10 pass breakups, two interceptions and a nation-leading three blocked punts). Braswell was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• In 2021, Orphey worked on head coach Nick Saban’s staff helping to develop the defensive game plan and assisting with defensive backs. The Crimson Tide won the SEC Championship Game over Georgia, defeated Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl Classic and advanced to the CFP National Championship Game.
• Orphey served two seasons as the secondary coach for the Aggies (2019-20).
• In 2020, Orphey helped S Shaq Bond earn honorable mention All-Mountain West for the second-straight season, totaling 7.8 tackles per game with three pass breakups and an interception. The defense ranked 35th nationally with 2.67 sacks per game.
• In 2019, the Aggies’ defense forced 24 turnovers (13 fumbles, 11 interceptions) to rank second in the Mountain West and 15th in the nation. The team appeared in the Frisco Bowl. S Troy Lefeged Jr. led the team with 104 tackles, adding four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
• During two seasons at Montana State (2017-18), Orphey coached four players to all-conference honors (Big Sky) in S Jahque Alleyn (2018), CB Greg Filer (2018), S Brayden Konkol (2018) and S Bryson McCabe (2017).
• 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. The defensive backs produced nine interceptions and six forced fumbles, finishing 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 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.
• Orphey spent four seasons at South Carolina, serving as a quality control assistant (2013) and defensive graduate assistant (2014-16). The program advanced 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. He coached four players to all-conference honors in DB Chris Lammons (2015), CB Al Harris Jr. (2015), S Brison Williams (2013) and CB Victor Hampton (2013).
• Orphey began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater as the cornerbacks coach at Texas Southern. During two seasons with the Tigers (2011-12), he mentored DB Tray Walker, a fourth-round pick in the NFL Draft, to all-conference and All-America honors in 2012, and DB Jerome Thomas to all-conference status in 2011.
• A three-year starter at cornerback at Texas Southern, Orphey earned all-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior (2009-10).
• A native of Houston, 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.
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Alma Mater: Texas Southern, 2010
2022-present: Rutgers (cornerbacks)
2021: Alabama (senior defensive analyst)
2019-20: Utah State (secondary)
2017-18: Montana State (secondary)
2014-16: South Carolina (quality control)
2013: South Carolina (defensive graduate assistant)
2011-12: Texas Southern (cornerbacks)
