After Kent State went 1-23 in its previous two seasons and Kenni Burns was out as head coach, the Golden Flashes’ football program didn’t seem like it would be competitive any time soon.
But Mark Carney dispelled that notion. As the team’s interim head coach, Carney helped Kent State go 5-7 overall in 2025 with a 4-4 mark in MAC play. The Golden Flashes were just one win away from bowl-eligibility.
Now, Carney is the long-term head coach. Here’s more about him:
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What’s Kent State Head Coach Mark Carney’s Salary?
Mark Carney made $300,000 in 2025, according to USA Today. He signed a four-year contract and his base salary for the next two years will reportedly be $450,000.
Mark Carney’s Coaching History
| Years | Team | Position |
| 2026-present | Kent State | HC |
| 2024-25 | Kent State | OC |
| 2023 | Kent State | TEs |
| 2020-22 | Charlotte | OC |
| 2019 | Charlotte | QBs |
| 2015-18 | Virginia State | OC |
| 2014 | Baldwin-Wallace | OC |
| 2009-13 | Bowling Green | WRs |
| 2004-08 | Richmond | QBs/WRs |
| 2002-03 | Fordham | SA |
What’s Kent State Head Coach Mark Carney’s Record?
Mark Carney is 5-7 in the FBS as a head coach.
How Old Is Kent State Head Coach Mark Carney?
Mark Carney is 46 years old.
Kent State Head Coach Mark Carney’s Background
Carney would’ve been a good hire for Kent State regardless of how 2025 went.
Carney was in his first season as Kent State’s offensive coordinator in 2024. And the Golden Flashes did have some bright spots on that side of the ball.
Previously, Carney was Kent State’s tight ends coach. Before that, he was at Charlotte for four years and was the team’s OC for three seasons. He was also an offensive coordinator at Virginia State and Baldwin-Wallace.
He coached wide receivers at Bowling Green and Richmond, where he also worked with quarterbacks. He began his coaching career at Fordham, where he was an All-American quarterback, as a student assistant.
