Marc Tirikian grew up in Detroit suburb Grosse Pointe. He attended Grosse Pointe North High School and was quickly noted as a skillful striker for his high school soccer team.
In 1984 he scored 24 goals for Kalamazoo College and was named to the NCAA Division III All-Mideast team. In 1985 he increased his number of goals to 42 and was named to the Division III All-America team. In November 1985 the 20 year old forward joined French club Olympique Avignonnais. He returned to Detroit in the fall of 1986.
Before the start of the 1987 National Soccer League season Marc joined Windsor Wheels. His 17 goals during regular league play made him the leading goalscorer in the NSL, and helped his club win the NSL Championship. He also scored Wheels’ goal as they defeated Sherbrooke L’Univestrie 1-0 in the Canadian Championship final. The final was contested between the winner of the Ontario NSL League and the Quebec NSL League champions. Including 9 goals scored in exhibition games, Marc scored a total of 27 goals during the 1987 season.
Windsor Wheels finished the 1988 National Soccer League season in third place in the final standings, four points behind winners Toronto Italia. Marc struggled with injuries during the season and left the Wheels after the end of the 1988 season.
In 1994 Marc was elected to the Kalamazoo College Athletic Hall of Fame.