Mark West - Head Sprint Football Coach - Sprint Football Coaches

Mark West

Title:
Head Sprint Football Coach
Email:
mark.west@westpoint.edu
Phone:
0062

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Mark R. West begins his 17th year as head coach of the Sprint football team. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1991.

Mark West led Army West Point to another high-level campaign in 2025, guiding the Black Knights to a CSFL Championship Game runner-up finish while continuing to elevate the program’s academic and competitive profile. Army produced 18 CSFL All-Academic Team selections, reflecting West’s emphasis on holistic cadet-athlete development and year-over-year academic excellence. The Black Knights also earned multiple major CSFL postseason honors, highlighted by Rookie of the Year Marek Arbogast, who anchored a strong defensive unit. Army’s postseason résumé included 14 total CSFL awards, with First-Team selections on both sides of the ball, reinforcing the program’s depth and the disciplined, physical identity that has defined West’s tenure.

In 2024, West guided Army to the pinnacle of the conference, capturing the CSFL Championship behind one of the league’s most complete and balanced seasons. The Black Knights earned 14 CSFL postseason awards, including five First-Team offensive selections, five First-Team defensive selections, and multiple Honorable Mention honorees. Army’s postseason success was complemented by standout individual performances, including several players recognized among the league’s top offensive and defensive contributors. The championship run showcased the program’s depth, discipline, and consistency, establishing the foundation for another title-contending season in 2025.

Through West’s first 14th seasons, Army West Point has an overall record of 93-18. He has six CSFL championships under his belt after winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 when the Black Knights went 7-0 in both seasons, marking their first time having consecutive perfect seasons since 1973-74. West then led the Black Knights to their third 7-0 season in four years in 2015. The Black Knights next earned the CSFL crown in 2017, when Army bested Penn 10-0 in the inaugural CSFL Championship Game to cap off just the second 8-0 season in program history. Army’s next title came in 2019 when Army blanked Navy 13-0 in the CSFL title game at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. The 2024 Black Knights once again finished the season with a championship collecting their third 8-0 season in program history and second within the last 10 years.

West has coached six Jim Kays Trophy winners: wide receiver Geoffrey Phillips (2008), quarterback Javier Sustaita (2012), defensive lineman Dylan Doty (2013), defensive lineman Philip Choi (2015, co-MVP), defensive lineman Curtis Jerzerick (2017) and quarterback Keegan West (2018). The award is presented annually to the league’s most valuable player.

A 1991 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West starred for the sprint football squad as a cadet. West was a three-year starter at quarterback for the lightweight football team, leading the Black Knights to an overall 17-1-1 record in that time span. He also led the Black Knights to three league championships and two wins over archrival Navy. He served as team captain and was named the first-ever Kays Award recipient as the most valuable player in the league his senior season. West was honored with the Colonel John A. Robenson Award in 1988 and 1990 as the Army lightweight football team's most valuable player.

Coach West served in various duty assignments to include Germany, Fort Hood, Kuwait, Fort Knox, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq before retiring in 2015.

He is married to his West Point classmate, the former Holly Fishburne, who recently retired as a COL after 30 years of service. They have four children, Keegan, Lexi, Kyle, and Daisy.