Mark Maciejewski '92/'96M has been named head football coach at Shippensburg University, effective immediately. Maciejewski, known as 'Mac', has been an assistant coach with the Red Raiders for 12 seasons and will replace Rocky Rees, who announced his retirement in September.

“It is a special honor to be able to have the opportunity to lead a program that I've been involved with for so long,” Maciejewski said. “One time, I had a helmet and shoulder pads on and wore that uniform. It is pretty humbling that I have the chance to lead the same program 22 years after I first got here.”

“I'm excited with everything about this job. Coach Rees has built a great foundation here and I am excited to build on the foundation that Rocky has established over the last 21 years. I have a special bond with a lot of these players and I look forward to continuing and building upon that bond.”

According to President Bill Ruud, “As a long-time member of the campus family and a proud Ship alum, Mac not only knows the football team, but he understands the values of the institution and our philosophy that combines athletic success with academic achievement. I am sure that Mac will lead the team to success on the field, lead his team members to success inside the classroom and garner significant financial support from our friends and alumni.”

“I am extremely happy for Mac to have his first opportunity to be a head coach at his alma mater,” said Jeff Michaels, acting director of athletics. “I am very excited for our team to be led by someone as committed to the program as he is. His passion for the university, the athletics department and the football program was visible throughout the search process. Under his leadership, I expect our football program to compete with the top programs in the PSAC and Division II.”

“We are happy that Mark has accepted this position,” said Dr. Roger L. Serr, university vice president for student affairs. “Mark is already a valuable member of the Shippensburg university family and we are excited to see him perform well in this new role.”

For the last four years, Maciejewski was Shippensburg's assistant head coach and was the primary instructor to the secondary. He was SU's defensive coordinator in 2003 and 2004 after beginning his stint as secondary coach in the spring of 2001.

“I have my ideas of what I want to do with the program and I'm excited about starting that challenge, Maciejewski said. “These players are excited about turning the page, moving forward and working hard.”

In 2009, when Shippensburg won the PSAC Championship with a 9-3 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Red Raider defense had several record-setting performances and was among the top ranked units in the nation for several categories. Maciejewski helped champion a group that ranked among Division II's Top 40 teams for sacks, pass defense efficiency and tackles for loss. Shippensburg had the second-most tackles for loss and fourth-most sacks in school history.

During Maciejewski's tenure as the team's defensive coordinator (2003 and 2004), Shippensburg compiled an 18-5 record and the Red Raider defense led the PSAC in scoring defense, rushing defense, pass defense efficiency and total defense while also ranking second in pass defense.

In 2004, Shippensburg reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a 10-1 mark during the regular season. The Red Raiders were second in the nation in scoring defense and fifth in total defense after being ranked fourth in total defense and fifth in scoring defense in 2003. SU had one of the nation's Top 15 rushing defenses and Top 10 pass defense efficiencies each of the two seasons. Additionally, nine of the team's 11 defensive starters received All-PSAC Western Division honors.

Shippensburg has totaled 11 All-PSAC selections in the secondary since Maciejewski joined the coaching staff in 2001. That group includes current Atlanta Falcon Brent Grimes, who ranks 10th in the National Football League with five interceptions this season.

As a player, Maciejewski was a three-year letterwinner as a nose guard for the Red Raiders from 1990 to 1992, finishing his playing career with 23 sacks and 28 other tackles for loss. The three-time All-PSAC Western Division First Team selection from 1990 to 1992 earned Associated Press Third Team All-America honors in 1991 and 1992. He was elected to the Shippensburg University Athletics Hall of Fame in October and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in environmental science.

“Whenever you are an alumnus of the institution that you are leading, it has a special bond with you,” Maciejewski said. “It's only going to make me work harder to make sure that I make all the alumni proud of our program as well as make the local and campus community proud.”

After his playing career, Maciejewski was a graduate assistant coach for Shippensburg in 1995 and 1996. Maciejewski was a defensive ends and assistant special teams coach in 1997 at James Madison University and became an assistant secondary coach for the Dukes in 1998.

In 1999, Maciejewski was the defensive coordinator at Saint Francis (Pa.) where the Red Flash ranked sixth in the Northeast Conference in total defense and fifth in sacks and opponent third-down conversions. He spent one season with Saint Francis before returning to Shippensburg in 2000.

A native of Punxsutawney, Maciejewski and his wife Tricia currently live in Chambersburg and are the parents of their 2-year-old son, Brady.

“I'm proud to be a part of the Ship family,” Maciejewski said. “There's a family bond here, and I'm excited about including a lot of alumni in our program and getting people involved.”

Maciejewski At-A-Glance

Alma Mater: Shippensburg '92/'96M
Family: Wife, Tricia; Son, Brady (2)
Years in Coaching (College): 16

Coaching Experience:

Shippensburg University
2006-10 Assistant Head Coach/Secondary
2003-04 Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator
2000-02 Assistant Coach - Secondary

St. Francis University
1999-2000 Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator


James Madison University
1998 Assistant Coach - Secondary
1997 Assistant Coach - Defensive Ends/Special Teams

Shippensburg University
1995-96 Graduate Assistant Coach