Oct 30, 2025
3 min read
KENT, Ohio – Kent State Vice President and Athletic Director Rancell L. Richmond announced today that Mark Carney has been named to the 24-Point Football Leadership Team.
Kent State has removed the interim tag and named Mark Carney its 24th head football coach
30/10/2025 20:25:00 |Football
KENT, Ohio -- Kent State Vice President and Director of Athletics Randale L.Richmond announced today that Mark Carney has been named the Golden Lightning's 24th head football coach, removing the interim designation he has held since April 2025.
Richmona says: "Being the head of the head of the head, Mark is ready to believe alongside the culture against our football hands."
"Wow! It's an incredible blessing to be named the next head football coach at Kent State University," Carney said."It is a very special and an honor to serve this university and our football program. The opportunity to lead a college football program in Northeast Ohio, where I live, is very special. I want to thank our university leadership team for giving me this opportunity: President Todd Deacon and his staff, our Athletics administrative staff, especially Randale Richmond and Greg Glaus. I am so grateful for this amazing process and your playing staff has motivated me throughout the last seven months.
Carney led Kent State to a 3-5 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the Mid-American Conference this season, guiding the program through a period of resurgence highlighted by significant victories.
The opening victory of the Flashes season over Merrimack marked Kent State's first victory since September 16, 2023, when they beat Central Connecticut State 38-10.More notably, the Carney Umass team beat 42-6 for the program's first FBS and Mac victory since November 26, 2022, when Kent State Buffalo defeated 30-27.The flashes also showed durability as they came back from a 21-3 deficit to defeat Bowling Green 24-21.
“Congratulations Trocrie,” the president said Monday.“I just wanted to show this at Kent State University, where I am studying here.And I am so gracious at Kent State University. I am amazed at how you got to Oklahoma with you.We have never had a hotel visiting team come to me.and in our cleaning conditionWe were amazed at how clean you kept your things.'And this is just a sign of respect.and after abnormal conditionspositive employeesYou are completely justified in erasing this culture.And we decided to remove the temporary tag."
Carney joined Kent State as the tight ends coach in January 2023, becoming the offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season.He oversaw one of the nation's most explosive passing attacks in that role.
The 2024 Golden Flashes are 21st nationally in passing yards at 13.5 yards per attempt, with quarterback Tommy Olatowski second in the nation at 16.7 yards per completion.Wide receiver Krishan McCray has emerged as one of the nation's top playmakers, ranking 20th nationally with nine touchdown receptions and 20th in yards per reception.30th at 17.63 yards.McCray earned second-team All-MAC honors, while Luke Florea was named third-team All-MAC.
Prior to Kent State, Carney spent four seasons in Charlotte, including three as the offensive coordinator, where the 49ers averaged nearly 400 yards per game.In his first season, he helped Charlotte to a school-record seven wins and an appearance in the Bahamas.
CASTES' reinforcements include Orency's career in the state of Virginia, leading the Resumroders to a 7-0 conference record in 2017.He also worked as an offensive coordinator at Baldwin-Wallace for five years during his brief tenure at Costcona.
From 2004-08, Kartika led Richmond's quarterbacks and wide receivers to the FCS Playoffs three times, including the 2008. National Championship Game.
Carney, a four-year letterwinner at Fordham, earned All-Patriot League and All-America honors as a quarterback before beginning his coaching career as a student assistant for the Rams in 2002-03.
The flashes travel to Ball State to play the cardinals on November 5 at 7: XnumX.On ESPNU.
Coach Carney introduced him to the team for the first time
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