The college football coaching arms race has officially begun.
Kent State is elevating interim coach Mark Carney to the status of permanent head coach, it announced in a Thursday morning press release. The promotion marks the first official FBS coaching hire of what is expected to be a busy 2025-26 offseason.
"Wow! What an incredible blessing to be named the next head football coach at Kent State University," Carney said in a university 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."
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that players were elated by Carney's hire and began chanting his name in a team meeting.
The Golden Flashes hired Carney, a former Fordham quarterback who played high school football in the Cleveland suburbs, as interim coach after dismissing ex-coach Kenni Burns in April. Kent State is 3-5 under the former offensive coordinator, which puts the Golden Flashes on pace for their best record since going 5-7 in 2022.
Carney will debut as full-time head coach of Kent State on Wednesday, when the team visits Ball State.
