Markison begins his third season at the helm of the men's and women's track and field programs in 2026-27.
Markison's second year saw the Thunder take third place on both the men's and women's side during the indoor and outdoor season. Markison oversaw a pair of athletes earn trips to the NCAA Championships. Braden Estep and Bailey Puckett made trips to the NCAA Championships during indoor season and Puckett again during outdoor season. Estep claimed second team All-America honors in the 200, while Puckett claimed first team honors both times and recorded the 18th fastest 1500-meter time in Division III history outdoors. The 2026 season saw growth from both the men's and women's 400-meter groups. Kaylee Birely toppled the outdoor 400-meter record and moved to 5th on the indoor top-10 list. She and fellow freshman Alyssa Posshen helped the Thunder set a new indoor record in the 4x400-meter relay. On the men's side, Markison guided Kyle Redd and Rushawn James to marks on Trine's top-10 lists. Redd ranks third all-time outdoors. In the jumps, freshman Hannah Flores Ness topped the Trine standard in both the indoor and outdoor high jump while claiming the MIAA crown in the outdoor high jump. Markison also led Brooklyn Kerry to the top of the Thunder record books in the triple jump, Kerry bested both the indoor and outdoor records and was ranked 23rd in the final Division III performance list. Academically, both teams earned the USTFCCCA Team All-Academic award and six Thunder women claimed individual All-Academic awards.
In his first year, Markison continued the standard of the Trine track and field program, sweeping the men's conference titles. For his efforts he was named MIAA Coach of the Year during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. In year one, Trine saw six athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships and earned one first team All-America and one second team All-America honor. Markison works primarily with the long sprints, high jump, and long and triple jumpers. On the men's side Markison's horizontal jumpers set seven top ten marks and claimed two MIAA Championships. On the women's side Emmaline Leatherman established a new program record in the outdoor high jump. The women's horizontal jumps combined for seven new top ten marks and one MIAA Championships. The Thunder's success was not limited to the track, both the men's and women's teams earned USTFCCCA Academic Team recognition and eight athletes were named USTFCCCA All-Academic.
Markison, a native of Woodstock, Illinois spent two seasons as the Head Track and Field Coach at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio. As the sprints, jumps, and hurdles coach he coached 15 conference champions, four national qualifiers, and one All-American. Beaver athletes under Markison's guidance set 18 program records. Markison landed the two largest recruiting classes in program history during his tenure.
Prior to his appointment as head coach, he was the assistant coach for sprints, jumps, and hurdles. He was also responsible for recruiting and strength training for all Bluffton Track and Field athletes.
Before his time in Bluffton, Markison was a Graduate Assistant for King's College, helping establish the track and field program for the Monarchs during their second season in 2016.
