Marcus West joined the Buffalo Bills in 2022 as the team’s assistant defensive line coach. West has served as the defensive line coach at several colleges and most recently was the assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/ defensive line coach at UNC Charlotte. He helped lead the Bills defense to finish the 2022 seasonr anked first in the AFC with 17.8 points allowed per game and ranked second in the NFL with 286 points allowed. At Charlotte, West oversaw a defensive unit that set program records in sacks (36) and tackles for loss (86). This also marked the first time the program received a bowl bid. Under his supervision, senior All-American defensive end Alex Highsmith, who ranked in the nation’s top five with school records in sacks (4th, 14.0) and TFL (5th, 21.5). Highsmith was selcted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Running mate Markees Watts, the opposite defensive end, had 9.5 sacks and 13.0 TFL in his break-out sophomore season.

Before he went to Charlotte, he helped Austin Peayy’s historic turnaround to an 8-4 season in 2017 before departing for Minnesota for the position as defensive line coach. The Gophers went 7-6 this season and defeated Georgia Tech, 34-10, in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, Mich., Dec. 26. In 2017, Austin Peay, a combined 1-45 from 2013-16, posted an 8-4 record, including an 8-1 mark in FCS play. The eight wins tied a program record for the Governors, and the team’s seven conference wins were a program record. The defense, led by West, held its opponents to 24.8 points per game (fifth-best in the OVC) and gave up 16.6 points per game in its eight wins. Austin Peay totaled 63 tackles for loss, 24 sacks, nine interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries as the team posted its historic turnaround. West’s defense ranked third in rushing (123.2 yards per game), fourth in total defense (310.1 yards per game), and fifth in passing defense (186.8 yards per game).

Before he started his coaching career, West played in three professional leagues. His career included one-season stints with the Indianapolis Colts (NFL), Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europe}, and Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL). West was a stand-out University of Memphis defensive lineman and earned All-Conference USA honors in 2004 and 2005. He was a team captain his senior season and earned the program’s Defensive Player of the Year award after a 2005 campaign that saw him earn honorable mention All-America honors.

“He’s unbelievable at developing players on the defensive line. He’s a great recruiter, has a great personality and is relationship driven. He’s a great friend who does things the right way. He’s the first guy I asked to come with me, and I’ve got a lot of trust in him and his ability.”

Coach Healy

“Marcus is one of the most high-character people I was able to coach. He has a passion and enthusiasm for the game and for coaching defense that will translate to his players. I could tell during his playing days he would make a great coach.”

Tommy West