Kent State Kicks Off College Football Coaching Cycle

**Kent State Kicks Off Coaching Carousel, Hires Minnesota’s Kenni Burns**

Kent, Ohio – Kent State University officially ignited the college football coaching carousel on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, announcing the hiring of Kenni Burns as its new head coach. Burns, who spent the last seven seasons working under P.J. Fleck at both Western Michigan and the University of Minnesota, steps into his first head coaching role, becoming the first formal hire of the current hiring cycle.

Burns, 39, arrives in Kent from the University of Minnesota, where he served as the running backs coach and assistant head coach since 2017. During his tenure with the Golden Gophers, he was instrumental in developing a potent rushing attack, notably coaching All-American running back Mohamed Ibrahim. His extensive experience within Fleck’s high-energy “Row the Boat” system, which emphasizes relentless effort and positive culture, is expected to shape the future of the Golden Flashes program.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Kenni Burns and his family to Kent State,” said Joel Nielsen, Kent State Director of Athletics, in a statement. “Kenni’s track record of developing student-athletes, both on and off the field, along with his deep understanding of program building under Coach Fleck, makes him the ideal leader for our football program. His energy and vision align perfectly with the values of Kent State University.”

Burns succeeds Sean Lewis, who departed Kent State to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Colorado under newly appointed head coach Deion Sanders. Lewis, who coached the Golden Flashes for five seasons (2018-2022), left a significant mark, leading the program to its first two bowl appearances in consecutive seasons (2019 and 2021) and transforming Kent State into a competitive force in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with his “FlashFast” offensive scheme. His overall record at Kent State was 24-31, including a 19-17 mark in MAC play.

Kent State, a program that often serves as a stepping stone for rising coaching stars, now looks to Burns to continue its upward trajectory. The university’s proactive move to secure Burns comes as the coaching market has been buzzing for several weeks with high-profile vacancies across the country.

The domino effect of coaching changes began as early as September. The University of Nebraska launched its search after firing Scott Frost on September 11. Arizona State University saw Herm Edwards depart on September 25, following an announcement of an investigation on September 18. The University of Wisconsin parted ways with Paul Chryst on October 2. Georgia Tech fired Geoff Collins on September 26, and the University of Colorado dismissed Karl Dorrell on October 3.

With Kent State making the first formal hire, industry observers anticipate a flurry of additional announcements as other programs finalize their searches, setting the stage for a dynamic offseason of coaching movement. Burns’ immediate challenge will be to build his coaching staff and navigate the transfer portal to retain current players and attract new talent to Kent State, ensuring the Golden Flashes remain competitive in the MAC.

“I am honored and humbled to be named the next head coach at Kent State University,” Burns stated. “This program has shown what it’s capable of under Coach Lewis, and I am committed to building on that foundation. We will establish a culture of excellence, discipline, and hard work that will lead us to success on the field and prepare our student-athletes for life beyond football.”