Kent State fires football head coach Kenni Burns (2025)

Table of Contents

Kenni Burns issues a statement via X regarding his termination What to know about new Kent State football coach Mark Carney References

Kent State University has fired head football coach Kenni Burns.

Director of athletics Randale L. Richmond shared the decision via the athletics department X account.

“Kent State University has terminated the employment of head football coach Kenni Burns. Offensive coordinator Mark Carney will serve as interim head football coach with a national search taking place at the conclusion of the 2025 season,” Richmond wrote. “At this time, our focus will be to support our student-athletes and provide them with the best opportunity to have a positive competitive experience.”

Kent State fires football head coach Kenni Burns (1)

Burns has been on administrative leave with pay since March 27. At that time, the university did not comment as to why.

Kenni Burns issues a statement via X regarding his termination

Burns took to the social media site X to express his disappointment and appreciation for the opportunity at Kent:

"My family and I are saddened by the news today. We are thankful for the relationships and connections we have made with the players, coaches, and staff over the past few years. The team bond we have is not transactional but that of a family. Kent G.R.I.T. will bind us forever, and for that I am thankful. I am proud of you all, and we will be rooting for you this season and beyond."
Coach Kenni Burns and Family G.R.I.T.

What to know about new Kent State football coach Mark Carney

Carney joined the Kent State staff in January 2023 as the tight ends coach, hired by Burns about a month after he became the Golden Flashes head coach. Carney was elevated to KSU offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season.

Carney came to Kent State after four seasons with the Charlotte 49ers, including serving as the offensive coordinator for the last three seasons there. In his three seasons at the helm of its 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.

Before his time in Charlotte, Carney was the offensive coordinator at Virginia State. The Trojans went 29-12 in his four seasons, highlighted by a 2017CIAAtitle with a perfect 7-0 league record.

Carney's other coaching stops include offensive coordinator at Baldwin-Wallace (2014), wide receivers coach at Bowling Green (2009-13), coaching quarterbacks and receivers at Richmond (2004-08) and being a student assistant at Fordham (2002-03) following his own playing career for the school. Carney graduated from Fordham and was a four-year letterwinner for the Rams as a QB, earning All-Patriot League and honorable mention All-America honors.

Mark and his wife Sarah have three children: Devyn, Marcus, and Andrew.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State football coach Kenni Burns fired, Mark Carney hired