Completed Event: Football versus #17 Kansas State on August 23, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 21
Final
Football
24
#17 Kansas State
21
Iowa State University Athletics
Football
Thurston, Mark
Mark Thurston
- Title:
- Assistant Director of Scouting
- Email:
- mthurst@iastate.edu
- Phone:
- 4-8059
Mark Thurston is in his fourth season as the assistant director of scouting for the Iowa State football program.
Thurston assists with recruiting visits and helps manage official and unofficial visits. He also organizes the recruitment process for the assistant coaches.Â
Iowa State recorded one of its best seasons in school history in 2018, as the Cyclones went 8-5, broke the school record for conference wins in a season (six), posted their best conference finish in 40 years (T3rd) and made the Valero Alamo Bowl.
ISU’s 2017 season got the program on the map. The Cyclones compiled an 8-5 record, the second-most wins in school history, and scored a victory in the 2017 Liberty Bowl over Memphis, only the fourth bowl win in the history of the program.Â
Iowa State also broke its school record for wins over ranked opponents (3), victories on the road (5), wins vs. conference opponents (5) and appeared in the AP national rankings for the first time in 12 years in 2017.
Thurston was on staff at Norfolk State from 2006-14 before a brief stop at Toledo in 2015 where he was a defensive quality control coach.
At Norfolk State, Thurston worked primarily with the defensive line, helping the Spartans annually produce outstanding defenses. He coached eight all-conference performers and two FCS All-Americans in his 10 years at the school. In 2011, the Spartans ranked second in FCS in total defense, won the MEAC title, earned a FCS Playoff berth and were crowned as the Black College national champion.
In his final season at NSU, the Spartans had the second-ranked defense in FCS.
He was the defensive line coach at Miami Norland High School from 2003-04, mentoring three all-state defenders who earned Division I scholarships. He also coached NFL stars Antonio Brown and Richard Gordon at the school.
A native of Miami, Fla., Thurston has an outstanding track record of recruiting high level players from the talent-rich Miami area.
Thurston was an all-state prep defensive end before earning a scholarship at West Virginia, starting three seasons for the Mountaineers from 1997-99 at rush linebacker.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia in 2003.
Thurston has a wife, Virginia, and two children: Major and Jada.
Coaching Experience
2016 Iowa State – Assistant Director of Scouting
2015 Toledo – Defensive Quality Control
2006-14 Norfolk State – Defensive Line
2005 Norfolk State – Assistant Offensive Line
2003-04 Miami Norland H.S. – Defensive Line, Special Teams
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