Hank Poteat & Mark Spencer Join Football Staff
2/17/2015 12:51:00 PM | Football
With spring football just around the corner, Kent State recently added a pair of coaches to its football staff. Mark Spencer was named running backs coach, while Hank Poteat was tabbed cornerbacks coach.
Spencer brings Mid-American Conference experience as both a player and coach. A walk-on turned scholarship running back at Ohio, he served as wide receivers and running backs coach at Miami from 2011-13.
"I feel comfortable with Mark knowing what type of person he is," Head Coach Paul Haynes said. "I've personally known him for a long time through working camps. He's known for his recruiting and he's known to be a great teacher."
While with the RedHawks, Spencer worked closely current Kent State Offensive Coordinator Don Treadwell, who was Miami's head coach.
"It helps when you have someone on staff like Coach Treadwell that he's worked with," Haynes added of Spencer. "He's already starting to fit right in with the staff. Running back is a position we'll need to improve in because we have so many young guys there."
Poteat spent 10 seasons playing in the NFL and brings four years of college coaching experience to the Golden Flashes. Tuesday was his first official day on staff, after spending the previous two seasons at Pitt.
"I talked to a lot of people that I respect and they only had great things to say about Hank's work ethic, character and integrity," Haynes said.
Poteat won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots, while former Kent State Head Coach Dean Pees was in New England. He was also NFL teammates with former Flashes Josh Cribbs, Abe Elam and James Harrison.
"With his background in the NFL, it kind of brings instant credibility for our players," Haynes said. "He has insight on what it takes to be in the NFL and that's one of their goals. He's played the position. We need to see improvement out of our cornerbacks, who are hungry for knowledge right now and ready to get better."
The Golden Flashes begin spring practice Monday, March 2. Kent State opens its 2015 season on Sept. 5, at Illinois.
