Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema announced today the addition of long-time associate Mark Taurisani as Assistant Athletics Director/Chief of Staff for the Fighting Illini football program. He will oversee much of the administrative aspects of the football program along with the day-to-day needs of Bielema and the football program.

Bielema said in a statement, quote - "Throughout my head coaching career, Mark has been able to start at an entry-level position in operations and now will help manage everything within our Illini football family. He works well with a wide range of people in various different positions that all appreciate his professional approach and ability to create a winning environment. Mark will join the fight here with our staff and student-athletes helping them become champions on and off the field."

Taurisani worked with Bielema in each of his 12 years as a head coach and comes to Illinois after three seasons as the Director of Operations for Michigan Football. He spent five seasons at the University of Arkansas, where he worked as Director of Football Operations, including the last four as Assistant Athletics Director. Prior to his stop in Fayetteville, Taurisani spent seven seasons at Wisconsin, including the final four as Director of Football Operations. He had been football operations coordinator in 2008-09, following two seasons as an operations assistant in 2006-07.

At Wisconsin, Taurisani was part of three Big Ten Championship-winning teams and seven bowl trips, including the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Rose Bowls. He has coordinated 12 bowl trips throughout his career, and has served as a member of the Rose Bowl Advisory Committee since 2010.

A native of Utica, New York, Taurisani graduated from State University of New York at Fredonia in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in sports and exercise, earning first-team all-conference honors as captain of the baseball team. He spent the summer of 2005 as a training camp assistant with the Seattle Seahawks and earned a master's degree in sport administration from Louisville in 2005.

Taurisani and his wife, Tara, welcomed their first child, daughter Rose, in 2018.