Mark Lister joined the Cornell staff in May 2002 and coaches the Big Red's outside linebackers. In his first season with the team, two of his standouts, Joel Sussman and Brad Kitlowski, earned All-Ivy League honors. The duo combined for 172 total tackles (including 12 for loss) to lead the team's defensive ranks.
Lister came to Cornell after serving for three seasons on the staff at the University of Toledo, where he was the director of football operations and recruiting coordinator along with his coaching responsibilities. As the director of football operations, his duties included coordinating all aspects of recruiting, travel, facility scheduling, video operations and camps. He also supervised the graduate assistants, coordinated walk-on tryouts and served as administrative liaison.
Lister spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons as a graduate assistant at Toledo. He worked with the defensive backs in 2000, and in 1999 he was responsible for video production and coordination. While he was working with the defense, the Rockets were ranked first nationally in turnover margin, third in scoring defense, third in total defense, fifth in rushing defense and 15th in pass efficiency defense.
Prior to joining the Toledo staff, Lister worked with the Tarleton State University team as the wide receivers coach during the spring of 1999.
A 1999 graduate of Tarleton State, Lister earned a bachelor of science degree in exercise and sports studies. A four-year letter winner for the Texans, he was the special teams captain for the 1998 season. He played three seasons as a free safety, but also saw action as a quarterback and receiver earlier in his career. He also earned academic all-conference honors in 1998.
