Mark Bilyk enters his 26th season at Cornell, working with the Big Red weight performers and multi-event athletes. Under his guidance, the men and women have set 40 school records and won 48 Ivy League and Heptagonal individual titles. He has coached two athletes who have set all-time Ivy League records (Sheeba Ibidunni in the 20-lb. weight and Maria Matos in the discus). He has also coached 18 athletes to NCAA qualifying performances and an NCAA All-American in the 35-lb. weight, as well as the 2001 ECAC champion in the discus. Over the past year, seven of his athletes qualified for the IC4A and ECAC Championships. In addition, Bilyk has coached 34 NCAA Regional Qualifiers in the weight events over the last six years, with Scott Benowicz (javelin) and Maria Matos (discus in 2007, 2008 and 2009) going on to compete at the NCAA Championships. During his tenure at Cornell, Bilyk has helped coach 33 Heptagonal Championship teams for both the men and women.
In 2008, Bilyk was also asked to assume the position of Head Equipment Manager for the athletic department. He is now responsible for all of the athletic purchasing for Cornell’s 36 varsity sports and physical education. In addition, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of four equipment cages, where they are responsible for issuing equipment and materials as well as doing the laundry for all of Cornell’s varsity athletes, physical education, wellness and general recreation participants.
A Big Red assistant in 1978-79, Bilyk coached for five years at Penn State before returning to Cornell. While at Penn State, he coached four NCAA All-Americans, two IC4A champions and two ECAC champions.
In 1975, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Penn State, the same school from which he received his master's from nine years later. Bilyk was a four-year performer in track and served as captain for the 1975 squad that won the outdoor Central Collegiate Conference title. He was also a member and All-East scorer in the Decathlon when Penn State won the IC4A Championships in 1974. He was given the Nate Cartmel Award in 1975 for outstanding leadership and performance.
Bilyk has a TAC Level 2 certification in the throwing events and is working on his level 3 certification. He has been involved with the U.S. Olympic Committee for the decathlon and the horizontal jumps as an instructor and coordinator.
A native of Lansdale, Pa., he graduated from North Penn High School, where he was selected the outstanding high jumper, most valuable field events man and most valuable track man in 1971.
Bilyk and his wife, Kas, reside in Ithaca and have two sons, Christopher and Matthew.
