The first head coaching hire since the dawn of the 2025 season is complete.
Kent State didn’t have to conduct a national search in order to find its 24th head coach in program history. The Golden Flashes
promoted interim head coach Mark Carney to an official head coaching role Thursday.
“Since taking over as interim head coach, Mark has instilled belief, togetherness, and a winning culture into our football program,” athletic director Randale L. Richmond issued in a statement. “The way he’s positively impacted this team, this department, this campus, and this community, he’s earned the right to lead this program.”
Carney was originally hired on staff in January 2023 as Kent State’s tight ends coach after a three-year stint as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Charlotte. He was promoted to an offensive coordinator role for the 2024 season. In April 2025, Kent State dismissed head coach Kenni Burns for violations of his contract and named Carney as the interim head coach for the 2025 season, delaying its national search for a head coach.
However, Carney stepped up and earned the role. Kent State entered the season on an FBS-long 21-game losing streak after a 1-11 campaign in 2023 and an 0-12 finish to 2024 — ranked last in the FBS in a multitude of major categories. The Golden Flashes hadn’t beaten an FBS or MAC team since the 2022 regular season finale, but Carney ensured all the futility would end. Kent State defeated FCS opponent Merrimack in the opener to snap the 21-game skid and then got on board with a pair of MAC wins in October. The Golden Flashes annihilated UMass 42-6 for their most dominant FBS victory since November 2021 and last week, they recorded their largest comeback since 2019, erasing an 18-point deficit to Bowling Green in a 24-21 win. It represented Kent State’s first win as the underdog in three seasons.
Kent State is currently sitting at 3-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play after enduring a grueling non-conference slate of Texas Tech, Florida State, and Oklahoma. The Golden Flashes are vastly improved in almost every facet, and through eight weeks, they’re one touchdown away from matching last year’s total. Kent State remains competitive in a wide-open MAC race, only sitting one loss away from second place.
The Golden Flashes continue their journey through a breakout 2025 season as Midweek MACtion enters full swing. They travel to Ball State next Wednesday in hopes of winning consecutive games for the first time since November 2021. Carney is now the full-time head coach leading the charge, and Wednesday marks his first game free of the interim label.
“Wow! What an incredible blessing to be named the next head football coach at Kent State University,” Carney said in a statement. “I am humbled and honored to serve this University and our football program. The opportunity to lead a college football program in Northeast Ohio, a place that’s home for me, is extremely special. I want to thank our University leadership team for entrusting me with this opportunity: President Todd Diacon and his staff, our athletic administrative team, specifically Randale Richmond and Greg Glaus. I’m very thankful for your direction and guidance throughout this process. I am so damn proud of our TEAM. What our players and staff have done over the last seven months inspires me daily. I am grateful to serve the young men in our locker room and look forward to continuing to build on Kent State football’s outstanding history and tradition. Flash Nation, thank you for your love and support. Your energy has impacted me, and I look forward to seeing you back at Dix soon!”
