Football Staff Welcomes Justin Hood
2/26/2019 9:38:00 AM | Football
Kent State's football team recently announced the hiring of Justin Hood as its secondary coach for the 2019 season. Â Hood was most recently in charge of the outside linebackers at Western Carolina.
"We're really excited to have Coach Hood as a part of our FlashFAST family." Head Coach Sean Lewis said. "He grew up right here in Northeast Ohio and has coaching experience in the Columbus area. He's an excellent teacher of the game. To get an in-state guy that has the expertise and experience that he does, is a great upgrade for us. We're looking forward to everything he brings to the development of our young men."
Spending the last three years at the FCS level, Hood coached for two seasons at Davidson prior to joining Western Carolina. He served as the safeties coach and recruiting coordinator in 2016 and was promoted to defensive pass game coordinator in 2017. In December of 2017, Hood served as the interim head coach for the Wildcats.
Prior to Davidson, Hood was the defensive coordinator at Capital University for two seasons.
In 2013, Hood worked with cornerbacks and special teams as a graduate assistant for Illinois.
Hood was also a part of two Top 5 finishes in the AP rankings at the University of Oregon in 2011 and 2012. Â As an intern and quality control coach, he assisted in coaching running backs and working in all phases of recruiting. During his two seasons, the Ducks won back-to-back Pac-12 championships, finished as the national runner-up in 2011 and won the Rose Bowl in 2012.
Hood also spent time working with the New York Giants as an intern in the summer of 2013.
As a cornerback at Ashland University, Hood was a four-year starter. He was a two-year team captain and earned All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Team honors.
The Youngstown, Ohio native is the second offseason addition to the Kent State coaching staff. Joe Coniglio became outside linebackers coach and defensive recruiting coordinator in January.
Kent State begins spring practices on Saturday, March 9, concluding with the Spring Game at Dix Stadium on Saturday, April 13.
