Football
- Title:
- Interim Head Coach
- Email:
- football@kent.edu
Updated March 2025
Mark Carney joined Kent State in January of 2023 as the tight ends coach. Carney was elevated to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season and was named interim head coach in April 2025.
In 2024, the Golden Flashes were one of the top big-play teams in the passing game, as they ranked 21st in the nation in passing yards per completion at 13.5 yards per completion. Quarterback Tommy Ulatowski ranked second in the nation, averaging 16.7 yards per completion. Carneyโs offense also had one of the best receivers in the nation, Chrishon McCray, who ranked 20th in the nation with nine touchdowns and 30th in the nation, averaging 17.63 yards per reception. The Golden Flashes saw two receivers named an All-MAC Team this season: Chrishon McCray (2nd Team) and Luke Floriea (3rd Team).
During the 2023 season, Carney coached the tight ends and Justin Holmes finished fifth on the team with 20 receptions for 188 receiving yards.
Carney comes to Kent State after four seasons with the Charlotte 49ers, including serving as the offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. In his three seasons at the helm of the 49ersโ offense, Charlotte averaged nearly 400 yards of offense. In his first season in Charlotte, he helped lead the 49ers to a school record for wins (7) and a trip to the Bahamas Bowl.ย
Before his time in Charlotte, Carney was the offensive coordinator at Virginia State. The Trojans went 29-12 in his four seasons, including a 2017ย CIAAย title with a perfect 7-0 league record.
He also has stops as the offensive coordinator at Baldwin-Wallace in 2014 and coached wide receivers at Bowling Green for five years. During his time with the Falcons, Bowling Green went to three bowl games. Carney also coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Richmond from 2004-08, helping the Spiders reach the FCS playoffs three times, including the 2008 FCS National Championship game.ย
Carney started coaching at his alma mater, Fordham, serving as a student assistant in 2002-03 after his playing career. He was a four-year letter winner for the Rams, earning All-Patriot League and honorable mention All-America honors at quarterback.ย
Mark and his wife Sarah have three children: Devyn, Marcus, and Andrew.
