Following 11 years as offensive coordinator including 10 seasons as assistant head coach at Western Illinois, Mark Hendrickson officially took over as head coach in December 2009. After serving as acting head coach for parts of the last two seasons, Hendrickson enters the 2010 campaign with the goal of returning the Leathernecks to championship form.

"I'm pleased that Mark Hendrickson has accepted the position as the head coach of the Leatherneck football program. He has been a loyal and committed member of the Western Illinois University family... We have full confidence in Coach Hendrickson's knowledge, enthusiasm and motivation in leading our football student-athletes on and off the field," said Director of Athletics Tim Van Alstine.

During his 11 years at Western Illinois, Hendrickson has helped produce nine 1,000-yard rushers and two of the program's three 1,000-yard receivers. Most recently, former Leatherneck Herb Donaldson became the fourth of Hendrickson's running backs to lead the league in rushing (2008). Donaldson was named Missouri Valley Football Conference 'Offensive Player of the Year' and a finalist for the 2008 Walter Payton Award, given to the nation's top offensive player in NCAA Division I FCS Football. Donaldson became the third Leatherneck coached by Hendrickson to receive the Conference 'Offensive Player of the Year' award (Charles Tharp in 2000, Russ Michna in 2002 and 2003).

Hendrickson's 2001 offense still owns the top passing mark in program history (285.5 ypg), while three other squads hold modern-era records: 2003 scoring offense (36.3 ppg), 2005 total offense (418.2 ypg) and 2007 rushing offense (251.5 ypg).

Hendrickson served as the acting head coach for the final eight games of the 2009 season, a year in which the Leathernecks won a thrilling 45-38 contest at Sam Houston State but would drop five games by a combined 31 points. Western was plagued by injuries throughout the 2009 campaign, however, the Leathernecks still managed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher (Dre Gibbs) and land seven players on the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference teams. The Fighting Leathernecks also extended the program's streak to having at least one All-American in 40 of the last 41 years.

Off the field four Leathernecks earned Academic All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors, including First Team selection Matt Barr who also became the first student-athlete to win the prestigious Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Award.

As acting head coach for the first seven games of the 2008 season he led the Leathernecks to a 5-2 record and a No. 12 national ranking. That year saw Donaldson become the all-time leading rusher in both Western Illinois and conference history. He ended the season as the highest-ranking among three Walter Payton Award finalists under Hendrickson, finishing third for the national award after leading all of Division I in both rushing and scoring. Donaldson became Western Illinois' first offensive player to be named consensus All-American since 1997, and he was joined in the All-America ranks by fullback Gibbs. The pair was an important part of the Leatherneck rushing offense that ranked sixth in the country.

In 2005, two-time Walter Payton Award candidate Travis Glasford ended his four-year starting career as the first player in Leatherneck history to rush for 4,000 yards. Along the way, wide receiver Reggie Gray, another four-year starter, amassed more receptions and more receiving yards than any other Western Illinois player. The pair became just the second set of teammates in Valley Football history to end their careers among the league's 'Top 10' leaders in all-purpose yardage.

Hendrickson, who also coaches punters and kickers, developed Mike Scifres into just the second player in school history to earn three First Team All-Conference honors. Scifres averaged a school-record 43.5 yards per punt during his career, garnered consensus All-American honors as a senior, and was the first punter taken in the 2003 NFL Draft. Placekicker Justin Langan twice earned First Team All-America honors, setting a Division I FCS record for most points scored in a season by a kicker (116 in 2002). Langan became Western's all-time leading scorer and set program records for most career field goals and most career extra points. In 2007, Taylor Rowan set a WIU record with 1.73 field goals per game, and converted more 50-yard field goals (6) than any other Division I kicker. Rowan's career included a new FCS record of 129 consecutive extra points.

During his tenure, Western has advanced to the FCS playoffs on three occasions, twice made the quarterfinals (2002 and 2003) and won the Missouri Valley Conference championship in 2000 and 2002. The Leathernecks have finished no worse than fourth place in the always tough MVFC seven times.

Hendrickson began his collegiate coaching career in 1983 as an assistant at Georgia Tech under legendary coach Bill Curry. He worked with the running backs and wide receivers from 1983-86. From 1987-89 he worked as the assistant line coach and special teams coordinator under coach Bobby Ross. During his final two years in Atlanta (1990-91) he served as tight ends coach and again coordinated all special teams play. Hendrickson earned a National Championship ring in 1990 with the Yellow Jackets.

He moved back to his native Iowa in 1992 working for a season at the University of Iowa under another Hall of Fame coach, Hayden Fry. Following a one-year stint at Southeast Missouri State as the offensive coordinator, Hendrickson returned to Iowa City. He held the title of special teams coordinator during his tenure. He coached Nick Gallery, the Big Ten Conference's leading punter in 1995 and 1996. He also instructed 1995 All-Big Ten selection at tight end Scott Slutzker, a third-round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts. In 1997 Hendrickson coached consensus All-American and NFL standout Tim Dwight (national leader in punt return average).

During his time between the Yellow Jackets and Hawkeyes, Hendrickson coached in six bowl games - including the 1991 Florida Citrus Bowl which Tech won to clinch the National Championship. Hendrickson went 5-1 in his bowl appearances, including wins in the: All-American (1985), Florida Citrus (1991), Aloha (1991), Sun (1995) and Alamo (1996) Bowl games.

Originally from Richland, Iowa, Hendrickson attended Pekin (Iowa) High School and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with honors in 1980. He earned his master's degree from UNI in 1982. Hendrickson was a four-year letterwinner at wide receiver for the Panthers.

Hendrickson and his wife Ericka have two sons, Myers and Davis, and a daughter, Georgie. Myers is a wide receiver for the Leathernecks, Davis is a member of the University of Illinois Baseball team and Georgie attends Macomb Junior High School.