Marcus Coleman facts for kids

Marcus Coleman (born May 24, 1974) is a former American football player. He played as a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). His teams included the New York Jets, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys. He also played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

After his playing career, Marcus became a coach. In 2018, he was named the first head coach for the Tucson Sugar Skulls in the Indoor Football League (IFL). Before that, he was the defensive coordinator for the Iowa Barnstormers when they won a championship. He later coached the West Texas Warbirds. Marcus and his wife, Lisa, live in Texas with their children, Nick, Gabriella, Jonathan, and a grandson, Jaidon.

Early Life and College Football

Growing Up in Dallas

Marcus Coleman went to Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas. He was a talented athlete, earning honors in both football and track. In football, he was recognized as an All-district and All-city safety. He also received All-district, All-city, and All-region honors in track.

Playing for Texas Tech

Coleman earned a scholarship to Texas Tech University. He started 36 games in a row for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team. He was known for playing a special "Raider position." This role combined the skills of an outside linebacker and a strong safety.

Marcus set a school and Southwest Conference record with four interception returns for touchdowns during his college career. He also held the school record for blocked kicks in a single season, with three. By the end of his college career, he had 256 tackles, 9 interceptions, and 6 blocked kicks. He also competed in track and field, earning All-Conference honors in the long jump and triple jump.

In 1995, Coleman was named an All-American, which means he was one of the best college football players in the country. Later, in 2008, he was chosen for the All-Time Texas Tech football team. He was also honored by being inducted into the Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2017, he joined the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.

Marcus Coleman's NFL Playing Career

Time with the New York Jets

The New York Jets picked Marcus Coleman in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL draft. He started four games as a cornerback during his first year.

In 1997, he started working with new head coach Bill Parcells. Parcells moved him from free safety to cornerback. Coach Parcells even gave him the nickname "The Wizard."

Coleman had a great year in 1999. He became a starting right cornerback and led the team with 6 interceptions. He also had 64 tackles and broke up 24 passes.

The next year, in 2000, he continued to play well. He recorded 56 tackles and broke up 19 passes, which was the most on his team. He also had 4 interceptions. One of these was a 98-yard "pick-six" (an interception returned for a touchdown) against the Miami Dolphins. This was one of the longest interception returns in Jets history at the time.

Playing for the Houston Texans

In 2002, the Houston Texans chose Coleman in the 2002 NFL expansion draft. He became the starting right cornerback for the new team. That season, he made 90 tackles, broke up 30 passes (leading the entire league), and had one interception.

In 2003, he had another strong season with 77 tackles and 23 passes defended. He led the Texans with 7 interceptions, which was a team record and tied him for fourth in the NFL. He was even named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for his excellent play in September.

In 2004, Coleman moved to play free safety after the Texans drafted another player. He holds the Texans' record for the longest interception return, a 102-yard pick-six against the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished that season with 80 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 8 passes defended.

In 2005, he played in 11 games, making 66 tackles and one interception. He was released by the Texans in February 2006.

Short Stint with the Dallas Cowboys

On April 18, 2006, Marcus Coleman signed with the Dallas Cowboys. This meant he was reunited with his former Jets coach, Bill Parcells. He played in three games as a backup player before being released in November. Marcus Coleman ended his NFL playing career with 484 tackles, 25 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns.

Coaching Career After Playing

Marcus Coleman began his coaching career in 2016 as the defensive backs coach for the Tri-Cities Fever in the Indoor Football League. On September 16, 2016, he became the defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator for the Iowa Barnstormers.

After two successful seasons with the Barnstormers, Coleman was named the first head coach for the Tucson Sugar Skulls on September 12, 2018. He then became the first head coach of the West Texas Warbirds in Odessa, Texas, for the 2020 season. However, that season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coleman left the Warbirds in October 2020.

As of 2024, Marcus Coleman is an assistant coach at UTRGV, serving as the special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach. Before that, he was an assistant coach and defensive backs coach at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, from 2021 to 2023.