Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
- Email:
- bgeorg13@kent.edu
- Phone:
- 330-672-3350
Brian George enters his fifth season on Kent State's staff and third as defensive coordinator. Serving as defensive line coach since 2011, George was promoted to defensive coordinator in January of 2013, following the hiring of Head Coach Paul Haynes.
In his first season as defensive cordinator, three Golden Flashes were named to the 2013 All-Mid-American Conference team on defense. Roosevelt Nix earned first team All-MAC honors and claimed a spot on the SI.com All-America team. Safety Jordan Italiano earned Academic All-America honors as a sophomore.
In 2014, safety Nate Holley was named to the All-MAC First Team and ranked third in the nation in tackles. Italiano earned Academic All-America First Team honors and was one of five defensive players selected to the Academic All-MAC Team.
During Kent State's 2012 MAC East title run, two defensive linemen (Roosevelt Nix & Jake Dooley) earned all-conference honors. In a rare feat, four defensive linemen (Mark Fackler, Richard Gray, Dana Brown, Zack Hitchens) combined for six interceptions. The D-line also forced five fumbles, helping the Flashes finish fourth in the nation in turnover margin.
Under George’s guidance in 2011, Roosevelt Nix was a First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection after leading the team with 17 tackles for loss. Nix was twice named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week and forced a team-high three fumbles in his sophomore campaign. Additionally, senior defensive lineman Ishmaa’ily Kitchen was selected to play in the Casino Del Sol All-Star Game and was later signed by the Cleveland Browns.
In conference-only games in 2011, the Golden Flashes ranked first in the MAC in total defense, red zone defense and pass efficiency defense. Kent State also ranked second in sacks and scoring defense. Nationally, the Flashes ranked seventh in fumbles recovered and turnover margin, 10th in turnovers gained, 18th in tackles for loss and 21st in total defense.
George also serves as the team’s community coach, organizing player visits to local hospitals, elementary schools, and other charitable events.
Prior to Kent State, George spent six seasons as the co-defensive coordinator at Indiana. He mentored the defensive tackles from 2009-10 after serving as the defensive line coach from 2005-08.
During his time at IU, the defensive line set the school record with 42 sacks in 2007 and had the fourth-highest total (31) in 2008. George also had two consecutive Hendricks Award finalists in Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton. Middleton was the nation’s leader in sacks in 2007 with 16, and Kirlew had a record-setting year in 2008 with 10.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. George also coached Second Team All-Big Ten defensive end Victor Adeyanju in 2005, who was selected in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. George also had a young tackle that was recognized for his accomplishments, as Larry Black Jr. was on the Sporting News Freshman All-American Team and earned All-Big Ten honors in 2009.
Prior to Indiana in 2005, George was the co-defensive coordinator for Miami University in 2004, helping the squad reach the MAC Championship Game and Independence Bowl. He was also Miami’s defensive line coach from 2001-03. In 2003, the RedHawks won the MAC Championship and the GMAC Bowl and finished the season ranked 10th in the country (AP).
George started and lettered four years as a fullback at Ohio University. He was named Ohio's Scholar-Athlete his senior year. After receiving his bachelor's degree in special education in 1994, George taught and coached running backs at Pickerington High School in Pickerington, Ohio, for three years before joining Miami's football program in 1998.
He is a 1990 graduate of Graham High School in St. Paris, Ohio. George was a prep all-conference performer in football, basketball and track.
Brian and his wife, Jasa, have a son, A.J., and a daughter, Maren.
