Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Football Rounds Out Coaching Staff With Three Hires
2/3/2026 12:30:00 PM | Football
Lions bring on Carlif Taylor and alumni Marshall Markham ’16CC and Hayden McDonald ’25CC to Jon Poppe’s staff
NEW YORK — Columbia football announced today the hiring of three new assistants to the Lions' coaching staff.
Carlif Taylor will serve as defensive line coach, Marshall Markham '16CC has been named tight ends coach and offensive assistant, and Hayden McDonald '25CC will join the staff as a special teams assistant. Markham and McDonald are both Columbia football alumni.
"We're pleased to welcome Carlif, Marshall and Hayden to our staff," said Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach Jon Poppe. "Carlif has a great track record of developing defensive linemen and recruiting talented student-athletes. It's exciting to bring Marshall and Hayden home as well. They bring firsthand knowledge of Columbia's culture and expectations, which will be a huge asset to our program."
Taylor, a New York City native, arrives at Columbia after two seasons as defensive line coach at Eastern Illinois, where his unit produced multiple Ohio Valley Conference all-conference performers and consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks. During his tenure, Taylor coached and helped recruit several defensive linemen who earned conference honors for run-stopping and pass-rush production.
Before starting his coaching career, Taylor played five seasons in the National Football League as a defensive tackle with the Chicago Bears (2013-2014), Miami Dolphins (2014-2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2015). He was also a standout at Southern Connecticut State, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 2014, and was a multiple All-Northeast Conference selection.
Markham, a three-year starter on Columbia's offensive line from 2012-2015 before beginning his coaching career, returns to Morningside Heights after a year on Penn's staff as offensive quality control coach in 2025. Previously, he served as an offensive analyst and assistant tight ends coach at Marshall in 2024, and as an assistant at Midwestern State University from 2021-2023. Markham began his career with the Mustangs as a graduate assistant and was promoted to tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator, and director of football operations during his final campaign in Wichita Falls, Texas.
McDonald transitions into coaching after a graduate year at Nevada, where he played in 12 games, starting 11 for the Wolfpack. After helping the Lions earn a share of the Ivy League Championship as a senior in 2024, he earned five FCS All-America honors (AFCA, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Football Central, Stats Perform) and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the FCS defensive player of the year. McDonald was also a unanimous selection to the All-Ivy First Team in 2024 after picking off five passes and breaking up seven more while making 68 tackles.
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For the latest on the Columbia football team, follow @CULionsFB on X, Instagram, Facebook and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Carlif Taylor will serve as defensive line coach, Marshall Markham '16CC has been named tight ends coach and offensive assistant, and Hayden McDonald '25CC will join the staff as a special teams assistant. Markham and McDonald are both Columbia football alumni.
"We're pleased to welcome Carlif, Marshall and Hayden to our staff," said Patricia and Shepard Alexander Head Coach Jon Poppe. "Carlif has a great track record of developing defensive linemen and recruiting talented student-athletes. It's exciting to bring Marshall and Hayden home as well. They bring firsthand knowledge of Columbia's culture and expectations, which will be a huge asset to our program."
Taylor, a New York City native, arrives at Columbia after two seasons as defensive line coach at Eastern Illinois, where his unit produced multiple Ohio Valley Conference all-conference performers and consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks. During his tenure, Taylor coached and helped recruit several defensive linemen who earned conference honors for run-stopping and pass-rush production.
Before starting his coaching career, Taylor played five seasons in the National Football League as a defensive tackle with the Chicago Bears (2013-2014), Miami Dolphins (2014-2015) and San Francisco 49ers (2015). He was also a standout at Southern Connecticut State, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 2014, and was a multiple All-Northeast Conference selection.
Markham, a three-year starter on Columbia's offensive line from 2012-2015 before beginning his coaching career, returns to Morningside Heights after a year on Penn's staff as offensive quality control coach in 2025. Previously, he served as an offensive analyst and assistant tight ends coach at Marshall in 2024, and as an assistant at Midwestern State University from 2021-2023. Markham began his career with the Mustangs as a graduate assistant and was promoted to tight ends coach, recruiting coordinator, and director of football operations during his final campaign in Wichita Falls, Texas.
McDonald transitions into coaching after a graduate year at Nevada, where he played in 12 games, starting 11 for the Wolfpack. After helping the Lions earn a share of the Ivy League Championship as a senior in 2024, he earned five FCS All-America honors (AFCA, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Football Central, Stats Perform) and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the FCS defensive player of the year. McDonald was also a unanimous selection to the All-Ivy First Team in 2024 after picking off five passes and breaking up seven more while making 68 tackles.
FOLLOW THE LIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the Columbia football team, follow @CULionsFB on X, Instagram, Facebook and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
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