Bielema adds Hauser, Taurisani to football coaching staff

Head Razorback football coach Bret Bielema announced Monday (Dec. 17) that Chris Hauser has been selected as the University of Arkansas’ new on-campus recruiting coordinator, and that Mark Taurisani has been selected as Arkansas’ director of football operations.

“Chris Hauser will make a great addition to our program,” Bielema said in a statement. “He has shown tremendous work ethic throughout his career, and his hiring is another step in compiling the best staff in the country. In his role, he will be an important piece of attracting not only the players we are bringing to Fayetteville but the person. Chris has demonstrated he understands our system, ideas and beliefs and he will work to identify and recruit student-athletes who fit into the culture of our program.”

As on-campus recruiting coordinator, Hauser will organize the recruiting process for the football team, including initial eligibility for each incoming student-athlete. He also will plan and organize all official and unofficial recruiting visits while assisting with the daily operations of the Razorback football program.

Hauser spent the 2012 season in the same position at Wisconsin and was Toledo’s director of high school relations in 2011. Prior to those roles, he collected 11 years of coaching experience.

Hauser served as defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach at Capital University in 2010. There, he coached two all-conference linebackers, including Sam Jacobs, who was named the Ohio Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Hauser spent four seasons at Ohio State helping produce one of the top defenses in the nation, first as a graduate assistant and then as defensive quality control coach. During his tenure with the Buckeyes, He worked directly with Vernon Gholston, who was selected sixth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. Hauser also helped Ohio State to four Big Ten championships and appearances in four BCS bowls, including two BCS National Championship Games. He spent the 2005 season as wide receivers coach at Fort Hays State.

Hauser played at Akron for two seasons before suffering a career-ending injury. He stayed with the program as an undergraduate assistant coach and also was a graduate assistant for the Zips.

Hauser graduated from Akron in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in health education and earned his Master’s degree in sports science and coaching in 2004. He and his wife, Whitney, have one daughter.

TAURISANI
“Mark Taurisani brings many years of experience in football operations to our program,” Coach Bielema said. “He is knowledgeable in his craft and has demonstrated great attention to detail and also the hard work necessary to be the best and keep our program running smoothly and efficiently. Mark has been an essential member of my staff for the past seven years and I’m looking forward to having him join us at Arkansas.”

As director of football operations, Taurisani will be responsible for team logistics and day-to-day operations. His tasks will include organizing fall camp, team game weekend arrangements at home and on the road, weekly team schedules, bowl game preparations and spring football schedule and logistics, in addition to assisting with high school camps.

Taurisani spent the previous seven seasons working in football operations at Wisconsin, including the last three as the Badgers’ director of football operations. Prior to taking over the post in 2010, Taurisani was football operations coordinator for two seasons after being a football operations assistant in 2006 and 2007.

Taurisani spent the summer of 2005 as a training camp assistant with the Seattle Seahawks. In that role, he helped with setup and operational duties, transportation and scheduling.

Taurisani is a native of Utica, N.Y., and graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a bachelor’s degree in sociology/sports in 2003. At SUNY Fredonia, he was a captain on the baseball team and was a first-team all-conference performer. He earned a master’s degree in sport administration from Louisville in December of 2005.