Sioux Falls Storm

All-time great Mark Blackburn brings passion and intensity back to the Sioux Falls Storm Defense in the 2023 IFL season.

Blackburn played seven season for the Sioux Falls Storm from 2003-2010 and holds the teams career record in tackles (715.5). Blackburn finished his hall-of-fame career ranking 5th all-time in team history in sacks (28.5), tied for 3rd all-time in team history in interceptions (17), and is 3rd all-time in team history in pass breakups.  

The University of South Dakota alum was instrumental in Storm's first championship run, playing LB in the organization's first four championship wins.

The Los Angeles, California native had his legendary number 14 retired and was inducted in the IFL Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Blackburn is a 5-Time IFL All-League selection, a  4-time Indoor Football Champion and a United Bowl MVP. 

He is involved in youth sports, training, collegiate coaching, and producing leaders for the past several years and looks forward to impacting more youth in the community in the future.

When Mark is not coaching, he serves as the Dean of Students at Augustana University, where he creates a culture of care for students, their families, faculty, and staff by enhancing the quality of life at Augustana by providing exemplary services that include Student Health and Counseling, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Title IX, Policy oversight, Student Conduct, Violence against women prevention, Student, or family emergencies, Campus Climate, and connecting students to university resources.

He provides oversight, support, and advises students in the areas of accountability, leadership, personal development, diversity, education, and advocacy. He develops policy initiatives, inclusive climates, and culturally focused programs that help build student, faculty, and staff awareness and respect for cultural and individual differences and well-being. 

Mark is blessed to have a wife Nicole and their two beautiful children, Jadaya 12 and Isaiah 11.