Mark Hardaway

Mark Hardaway

Mark Hardaway will begin his fifth season as part of the Cleveland State coaching staff during the 2022 season, serving as an assistant coach for the Vikings.

Hardaway joined the Vikings prior to the 2018 campaign with more than 30 years of coaching experience, including multiple years in the Horizon League.

Prior to Cleveland State, Hardaway spent six years as the head coach at Youngstown State, turning a once-struggling program into a Horizon League contender. During his tenure, the Penguins posted many program firsts, including three consecutive winning seasons, back-to-back appearances in the Horizon League semifinals and the program record for league wins in a single-season.

Under Hardaway’s guidance, Youngstown State produced the 2014 Horizon League Setter of the Year, 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and six all-league selections. Hardaway also mentored Val Jeffrey – the 2014 Horizon League Setter of the Year – to a spot on the 2017 USA World University Games roster.

Prior to his tenure at YSU, Hardaway spent eight years as the head coach at Evansville and 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Bowling Green. With the Purple Aces, he mentored 11 All-Conference selections and had two players inducted into the University of Evansville Athletic Hall of Fame, while he helped guide the Falcons to three consecutive 20-win seasons and 19 All-Conference honors.

Hardaway also had collegiate coaching stops at Pittsburg State University, Defiance College and Western Kentucky University.

Hardaway got his start in coaching at the high school level, serving as the head coach and assistant coach at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio and Joplin Christian School in Joplin, Missouri.

Hardaway has also served as a USA Volleyball Women’s National Team evaluator and Evansville River City Volleyball Club coordinator of coaches.