Marquis White was born on  April 30, 1969 in San Rafael, CA. He attended Terra Linda High School and the USF where he played soccer. He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelors in Sports Administration. Following graduation, he moved to the Netherlands where he played for the amateur SV Hatert. Following that he played in Bolivia and in the US when he was drafted by the  New England Revolution in the fourth round (35th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft.

Following some injuries during the preseason, he returned to the San Francisco area where he signed with San Francisco Bay Seals but he was forced to sit out most of the 1996 season. In 1997, he spent two seasons with the Seals which included the team's run to the semifinals of the 1997 U.S. Open Cup. In March 1998, the Colorado Rapids selected White in the first round (4th overall) of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft. He played forty-two games over the next two seasons, but spent some of 1999 on loan to the Seals. When the Seals folded at the end of the season and White retired from playing professionally to devote himself to his coaching career. However, he continued to play on a semi-professional basis with the San Francisco Glens of the San Francisco Soccer Football League Major League in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, he moved to San Francisco Italian A.C.

White has held coaching positions with the San Ramon Valley High School junior varsity team in 1997. He then coached the De La Salle High School varsity team from 2000 to 2002. That year, he entered St.Mary's College where he gained his teaching credentials. While studying for his Degree, he also served as an assistant coach with the men's soccer team. He is the Diablo FC Technical Director and a teacher at Heritage High School.