Mark Bluman
Head Coach Cross Country
Mark Bluman, 33, prepares for his seventh year as head coach for men's and women's cross country at Francis Marion University.
A native of White Oak, Pa., he joined the FMU staff in 2001 succeeding longtime head coach Dr. Thomas Whiteley, who retired after 24 years at the helm of the Patriot programs.
Under Bluman, the men's squads at Francis Marion have placed fifth (2006), sixth (2005), sixth (2004), fifth (2003), fifth (2002), and eighth (2001) at the Peach Belt Conference championships. At the NCAA Division II South Region Meet, the Patriot men have finished 17th (2006), 18th (2005), 18th (2004), 13th (2003), 15th (2002), and 19th (2001).
His women's teams at FMU have placed seventh (2006), ninth (2005), sixth (2004), eighth (2003), 10th (2002), and 11th (2001) at the Peach Belt championships. At the NCAA Division II South Region Meet, the Patriot women finished 18th in 2006 and 20th in 2004, but did not score in 2005.
His 2006 Patriot men's squad earned national All-Academic team honors, while runner Patrick Hopewell was named to the national All-Academic Team. Runners from the FMU women's squad have earned All-PBC honors on three occasions.
Bluman came to Francis Marion from Bluffton College, an NCAA Division III school in Bluffton, Ohio. He was head coach of the Beavers’ cross country and track and field teams (men’s and women’s) for three years. Bluffton is a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
At Bluffton, he rebuilt the men’s and women’s cross country programs into competitive squads. In 2000, his very young teams both placed fifth at the HCAC championship meet, the then-highest finish ever for the two programs. In the spring of 2001, the Beaver men placed fifth and the women sixth at the conference track and field championship meet.
Bluman guided the Bluffton women’s cross country team to Academic All-America team awards in 1998 and 1999.
He earned the B.A. degree (cum laude) in communications and the M.A. degree (cum laude) in social sciences from California University of Pennsylvania. He also received the USA Track and Field Level 1 coaching certificate in 2000. While an undergraduate student, he lettered for four years on the Vulcan cross country team and one year on the track and field squad. He later served as a graduate assistant coach for both squads during the 1996-97 season.
Prior to joining the Bluffton staff in 1998, Bluman was the head distance coach and assistant track and field coach at Brentwood High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Brentwood boys’ squad placed first at the WPIAL Section 7 Double A meet, while the girls’ team finished second.
Bluman also serves as the athletics business manager for the Francis Marion University athletic program, and directs the university's annual summer Activities Camp for children.
