Entering his third season on the sidelines at West Liberty University, Marcus Spencer will coach the Hilltopper’s defensive backs. In 2023, WLU ranked among the NCAA D-II leaders in multiple categories including: Blocked Kicks (No.4 – 9) and Defensive Touchdowns (No. 5 – 5) In 2022, the defensive secondary was highlighted by Shon Stephens who garnered recognition on the regional and national level, as the WLU defensive back was named First Team All-MEC, All-Super Region 1, D2CCA All-America, Don Hansen All-American, and D2Football.com Elite 100 Defense.
Prior to coming to the hilltop, Spencer spent the past three seasons as a defensive backs coach in the PSAC; coaching Seton Hill University in 2018 and Clarion University in 2019 and 2020.
From 2015-18 he spent time as a high school assistant coach and trainer in the Chicago area. He helped lead Fenwick High School to the Illinois state semifinals and De La Salle High School to the first round of the playoffs of the Catholic League Chicago. Spencer also worked as a certified personal trainer at the University Club of Chicago.
Spencer entered the coaching industry as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater by coaching the Alabama defensive backs in 2002. From 2002-04 he coached at the Tim Horton’s Youth Football Camps before becoming the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Sumter High School for four seasons, 2005-08. He then returned to the college ranks as the defensive backs coach at Bethel University (TN).
The York, Alabama native started his collegiate career as a walk-on in Tuscaloosa, being named the 1997 and 1998 recipient of the “Bear” Bryant Best Non-Scholarship Award before earning a full scholarship with the Crimson Tide. He left the University of Alabama as a 3-year starter and 4-year letterman from 1997-2000, playing safety for head coach Mike DuBose. The Crimson Tide defensive back’s name still stands among the top in program history in the record books, as he is tied for fourth all-time in single-game history, making 19 tackles in a November 11, 2000 game at Mississippi State and ranks seventh all-time in career tackles (303). He led Alabama in interceptions in 1998 (4), and pass break-ups in 1999 (49) and 2000 (76). Spencer and the Crimson Tide won the 1999 SEC Championship over Florida and made appearances in the 1998 Music City Bowl and 1999 Orange Bowl.
Spencer graduated from Alabama in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and a minor in Computer Software Programming: Languages Web/Programming. He also received his ACE Personal Trainer Certification in September 2013.
Following his collegiate playing career in Tuscaloosa, Spencer went on to play professionally in the NFL and CFL. His professional career began in 2001 as he signed with the Tennessee Titans. He then went on to play three seasons for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, being named a finalist for the CFL Special Teams Player of the Year once during his career. After taking a few years off from playing, he returned to the playing field in arena football, playing in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2009 with the Odessa Roughnecks and won the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) as a member of the Cincinnati Commandos in 2011.
