Hall of Fame
A four-year member of Leatherneck Football as an offensive lineman, "Kaz" helped Western to a 32-9 record during his career under WIU and College Football Hall of Fame coach Darrell Mudra. Kaczmarek joins 16 of his teammates and coaches (during his four-year career) in getting inducted to the Athletic Department Hall of Fame.
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Kaczmarek was a 1972 All-American selection and he signed a contract with the World Football League two years later. During his freshman year in 1969, the Leathernecks went undefeated and won the final IIAC Conference title.
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His offensive line coach, and future WIU head coach, was Hall of Famer Brodie Westen. After graduation and his playing career, Kaczmarek began a successful career coaching high school football. He became a three-time regional ‘Coach of the Year’ (1984-85 in Nebraska, 1997 in Iowa) award winner and four times was a finalist as the Class 4A Eastern Iowa ‘Coach of the Year’.
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In three years as the head coach at Beatrice (Neb.) High School, he led the team to the first-ever playoff appearance and first winning season in 13 years. After a three-year stint at Dixon HS, he continued his football coaching career at Davenport Assumption. Kaczmarek’s squad qualified for postseason 11-of-12 times, went undefeated three times and won six MAC Championships.
Kaczmarek currently teaches at United Township High School in East Moline and is an adjunct faculty member at Black Hawk College. He has served as an assistant coach at Assumption since the fall of 2007.
A 1973 graduate of Western with a degree in political science, he earned a master's degree in political science from Iowa State. Mark and his wife Kathleen have two children - Chelsea and Zachary.
