Mark Hastings played quarterback and tight end in high school at Red Bay before graduating from Alabama in 1991.

He spent two seasons as an assistant at Autauga Academy and five seasons as an assistant at Edgewood Academy.

Hastings accepted his first head coaching position in 1998 at Tuscaloosa Academy where the Knights went 11-18 in three seasons.

In 2001, Hastings took over the football program at Warrior Academy and also served as headmaster for two seasons with a combined 8-13 record.

Hastings started the football program in the fall of 2004. His first team finished with a 4-4 record and in his third season they reached the playoffs.

Coach Hastings moved to Oakman in 2009 and has found continued success with the program. After two subpar seasons each of his teams have qualified for the playoffs. In 2019 he moved on to Hale County for two seasons before settling at Lynn in 2021.