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The college football coaching carousel exploded in October. Following LSU’s decision to fire Brian Kelly on Sunday, the buyout number for the sport reached approximately $170 million. More News: Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Gives Brian Kelly Brutal Reality Check LSU, Penn State and Florida are the most prestigious jobs on the market. There are eight Power 4 jobs available before November, and there will likely be more added to the list in the coming weeks. It’s fair to wonder whether there are enough qualified coaches to fill all the jobs in this hiring cycle. One college football program decided not to look for outside help this year. Instead, Kent State will promote one of its own. LUBBOCK, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 06: Interim Head Coach Mark Carney of the Kent State Golden Flashes conducts an interview during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) More News: Two College Football Programs Reached Out to Marcus Freeman: Report Per Pete Thamel of ESPN, Kent State removed the interim head coaching label from Mark Carney, naming him the permanent head coach. “Per sources, the Kent State team was just informed of Carney being named permanent coach,” Thamel posted on X. “The team ‘erupted’ in celebration, per a source, and began chanting his name. “ The program gave Carney the promotion after seeing significant progress this season. “Kent State promoting Mark Carney to full-time coach marks the first of the 12 jobs open *so far* in this cycle to be filled,” Thamel posted. “Kent State is 3-5 this season and 2-2 in the MAC. They have more wins this year than the previous two combined, as Kent went 1-11 and 0-12.” Per sources, the Kent State team was just informed of Carney being named permanent coach. The team "erupted" in celebration, per a source, and began chanting his name. https://t.co/QWZtbrw0iX— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 30, 2025 Carney was named interim head coach on March 27 after head coach Kenni Burns was placed on administrative leave. The Golden Flashes fired Burns in April. Carney was a quarterback for Fordham from 1998 to 2001. He started his coaching career as a student assistant at Fordham in 2022. Carney served as a quarterbacks and wide receivers coach for Richmond from 2004 to 2008. He spent five seasons with Bowling Green as a wide receivers coach. Carney spent 2014 with Baldwin Wallace as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He then spent four seasons with Virginia State as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before taking the quarterbacks job at Charlotte in 2019. He was promoted to offensive coordinator at Charlotte in 2020. Carney joined Kent State in 2023 as a tight ends and inside wide receiver coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2024. For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.
