Kennesaw State University Men's Football

Bailey will be involved in every aspect of the Owls program, including scheduling, academics, travel and practice planning. No stranger to upstart programs, Bailey came Kennesaw State after spending four seasons as equipment manager at Georgia State.   He was the first-ever equipment manager for the Panthers and among his responsibilities were monitoring and overseeing uniform orders, designing and implementing a temporary football facility while the primary facility was under construction, managing graduate assistants and student managers for football, overseeing the Letter Awards program for the department and was on the committee for the design of new logos for the athletics department.   Prior to joining the Georgia State program, Bailey spent three years at Illinois State (2006-09) where he held the titles of director of equipment operations and football equipment manager. He also has served as inventory control manager at Kattus Pro Team Sports (2005-06) in Cincinnati, Ohio, athletic equipment supervisor at the University of Cincinnati (1995-05), assistant athletic equipment manager at Georgia Tech (1993-95) and athletic equipment manager and dorm supervisor at Southeast Missouri State (1990-93).   A certified member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, Bailey is a 1988 graduate of Auburn where he earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice.   Bailey and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Justin and Travis, and live in nearby Canton. 

Bohannon made history on March 24, 2013 when he was named the first football coach in the history of Kennesaw State University.                 As the program enters its second season in 2016, Bohannon looks to continue the momentum from a dazzling debut in 2015 that saw the Owls finish 6-5, roll up eye-popping numbers out of the spread option offense and sellout every home game at Fifth Third Bank while going 5-1 in front of raucous crowds.                 In 18 years as either a college assistant or head coach, Bohannon has been part of teams that averaged 8.6 wins per season, reached the postseason 15 times and won a pair of national championships while at Georgia Southern.                 A Griffin, Ga., native and former wide receiver at the University of Georgia, Bohannon joined the Owls after spending the previous five seasons as quarterbacks/B-backs coach at Georgia Tech where he helped engineer one of the countrys most prolific spread option offenses.                 His first team at Kennesaw State rushed for 293.0 yards per game, which led the Big South Conference and ranked sixth nationally. It was the second-best single-season rushing effort by a Big South team since VMIs 357.5 yards in 2008. The Owls lit up the scoreboard with 41 touchdowns and 429.8 yards of total offense.                 It didnt take the nation long to realize Kennesaw States explosiveness. KSU blitzed East Tennessee State, 56-16, on the road in a match-up of two programs playing their first-ever games. The next week, the Owls were welcomed home for the first time and pounded Edward Waters, 58-7, in front of 9,506 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.                 Bohannons Owls began their debut season 4-1 in non-conference action and made history again with a 12-7 win over Gardner-Webb on October 17 as Kennesaw State became the first Big South member to win its first conference game in its initial year as a member.                 The early-season success gave Bohannons team national recognition in the Top 25 polls for the first time in program history, as KSU spent three consecutive weeks among teams receiving votes in the FCS Stats Top 25 beginning October 19.                 Another Big South win over Monmouth, 23-13, allowed the Owls to clinch a winning record and the team would finish 6-5 to tie Georgia State for the third-best record by an FCS program in its inaugural season.                 Four Owls received Big South honors as DB Taylor Henkle was named to the first team, while DB Derrick Farrow and OL Malik Letatau earned second-team nods. Senior WR Prentice Stone was named to the All-Academic Team and would become the programs first graduate this past May.                 Bohannon himself earned praise as well as he was inducted to the Griffin-Spalding Hall of Fame  and was named the state of Georgias 2016 Most Positive College Head Coach by Positive Athlete Georgia a program spearheaded by Hines Ward.                 Bohannon was formally introduced as head coach at a press conference inside the locker room at Fifth Third Bank Stadium before a standing-room only audience that included media, family, friends, KSU Athletics administration and coaches, members of the University community and invited guests on March 26, 2013.                 Since his arrival at Kennesaw State, Bohannon and his staff have been tireless in their efforts to attract high-quality student-athletes to The Nest. He signed his first recruiting class of 29 players on Feb. 5, 2014, added 16 future Owls on Feb. 4, 2015, and inked 18 more on the most recent National Signing Day.                 Bohannon brought 17 seasons of coaching experience at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) levels to Kennesaw State, all of which came under spread option mastermind Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech, Navy and Georgia Southern.                 During Bohannons time at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets finished in the top four nationally in rushing offense every season and led the nation in rushing in 2010. No team in college football rushed for more yards than Georgia Tech, which accumulated more than 20,000 yards during his last five seasons.                 Under Bohannons direction, former Georgia Tech quarterbacks Tevin Washington and Joshua Nesbitt emerged as two of the most prolific signal callers in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history. Nesbitt and Washington combined to rush for more than 5,000 yards and rank first and third, respectively, in ACC history for career rushing yards by a quarterback.                 Under Bohannon, four players rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season -- B-back Jonathan Dwyer in 2008, Dwyer and Nesbitt in 2009, and B-back Anthony Allen in 2010. Dwyer was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2008 and 2009. Nesbitt was the first-team All-ACC quarterback in 2009, and Allen was first-team All-ACC in 2010. Dwyer and Allen went on to NFL careers.                 Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Bohannon spent six years as wide receivers coach at Navy. He was part of a staff that returned the Midshipmen to the national spotlight. Navy won 35 games over four years, earning a school-record four consecutive bowl berths and a school-best four straight Commander-In-Chiefs Trophies.                 Prior to his appointment on Johnsons staff at Navy, Bohannon coached the wide receivers for three seasons at Georgia Southern before taking over the defensive backs his last two years.                 In each of those five seasons in Statesboro, the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, finished as national runner-up in 1998 and claimed back-to-back national championships in 1999 and 2000.                 A four-year letterwinner and standout wide receiver at Georgia, Bohannon started his coaching career at West Georgia before earning his first full-time position at Gardner-Webb (N.C.) as wide receivers coach in 1996.                 Bohannon earned his bachelors degree in general business from Georgia in 1993 and a masters in business education from West Georgia in 1996.                 He is married to the former Melanie Cobb and the couple has three children, sons Blake Patrick and Braden Thomas, and daughter Brooke Anna. The family resides in Woodstock, Ga. What Theyre Saying About Brian Bohannon Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson Legendary Head Football Coach Vince Dooley Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Monken Brian Bohannons Coaching Career Brian Bohannons Postseason History Brian Bohannon made history on March 24, 2013 when he was named the first football coach in the history of Kennesaw State University.                 As the program enters its second season in 2016, Bohannon looks to continue the momentum from a dazzling debut in 2015 that saw the Owls finish 6-5, roll up eye-popping numbers out of the spread option offense and sellout every home game at Fifth Third Bank while going 5-1 in front of raucous crowds.                 In 18 years as either a college assistant or head coach, Bohannon has been part of teams that averaged 8.6 wins per season, reached the postseason 15 times and won a pair of national championships while at Georgia Southern.                 A Griffin, Ga., native and former wide receiver at the University of Georgia, Bohannon joined the Owls after spending the previous five seasons as quarterbacks/B-backs coach at Georgia Tech where he helped engineer one of the countrys most prolific spread option offenses.                 His first team at Kennesaw State rushed for 293.0 yards per game, which led the Big South Conference and ranked sixth nationally. It was the second-best single-season rushing effort by a Big South team since VMIs 357.5 yards in 2008. The Owls lit up the scoreboard with 41 touchdowns and 429.8 yards of total offense.                 It didnt take the nation long to realize Kennesaw States explosiveness. KSU blitzed East Tennessee State, 56-16, on the road in a match-up of two programs playing their first-ever games. The next week, the Owls were welcomed home for the first time and pounded Edward Waters, 58-7, in front of 9,506 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.                 Bohannons Owls began their debut season 4-1 in non-conference action and made history again with a 12-7 win over Gardner-Webb on October 17 as Kennesaw State became the first Big South member to win its first conference game in its initial year as a member.                 The early-season success gave Bohannons team national recognition in the Top 25 polls for the first time in program history, as KSU spent three consecutive weeks among teams receiving votes in the FCS Stats Top 25 beginning October 19.                 Another Big South win over Monmouth, 23-13, allowed the Owls to clinch a winning record and the team would finish 6-5 to tie Georgia State for the third-best record by an FCS program in its inaugural season.                 Four Owls received Big South honors as DB Taylor Henkle was named to the first team, while DB Derrick Farrow and OL Malik Letatau earned second-team nods. Senior WR Prentice Stone was named to the All-Academic Team and would become the programs first graduate this past May.                 Bohannon himself earned praise as well as he was inducted to the Griffin-Spalding Hall of Fame  and was named the state of Georgias 2016 Most Positive College Head Coach by Positive Athlete Georgia a program spearheaded by Hines Ward.                 Bohannon was formally introduced as head coach at a press conference inside the locker room at Fifth Third Bank Stadium before a standing-room only audience that included media, family, friends, KSU Athletics administration and coaches, members of the University community and invited guests on March 26, 2013.                 Since his arrival at Kennesaw State, Bohannon and his staff have been tireless in their efforts to attract high-quality student-athletes to The Nest. He signed his first recruiting class of 29 players on Feb. 5, 2014, added 16 future Owls on Feb. 4, 2015, and inked 18 more on the most recent National Signing Day.                 Bohannon brought 17 seasons of coaching experience at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) levels to Kennesaw State, all of which came under spread option mastermind Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech, Navy and Georgia Southern.                 During Bohannons time at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets finished in the top four nationally in rushing offense every season and led the nation in rushing in 2010. No team in college football rushed for more yards than Georgia Tech, which accumulated more than 20,000 yards during his last five seasons.                 Under Bohannons direction, former Georgia Tech quarterbacks Tevin Washington and Joshua Nesbitt emerged as two of the most prolific signal callers in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history. Nesbitt and Washington combined to rush for more than 5,000 yards and rank first and third, respectively, in ACC history for career rushing yards by a quarterback.                 Under Bohannon, four players rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season -- B-back Jonathan Dwyer in 2008, Dwyer and Nesbitt in 2009, and B-back Anthony Allen in 2010. Dwyer was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2008 and 2009. Nesbitt was the first-team All-ACC quarterback in 2009, and Allen was first-team All-ACC in 2010. Dwyer and Allen went on to NFL careers.                 Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Bohannon spent six years as wide receivers coach at Navy. He was part of a staff that returned the Midshipmen to the national spotlight. Navy won 35 games over four years, earning a school-record four consecutive bowl berths and a school-best four straight Commander-In-Chiefs Trophies.                 Prior to his appointment on Johnsons staff at Navy, Bohannon coached the wide receivers for three seasons at Georgia Southern before taking over the defensive backs his last two years.                 In each of those five seasons in Statesboro, the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, finished as national runner-up in 1998 and claimed back-to-back national championships in 1999 and 2000.                 A four-year letterwinner and standout wide receiver at Georgia, Bohannon started his coaching career at West Georgia before earning his first full-time position at Gardner-Webb (N.C.) as wide receivers coach in 1996.                 Bohannon earned his bachelors degree in general business from Georgia in 1993 and a masters in business education from West Georgia in 1996.                 He is married to the former Melanie Cobb and the couple has three children, sons Blake Patrick and Braden Thomas, and daughter Brooke Anna. The family resides in Woodstock, Ga. What Theyre Saying About Brian Bohannon Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson Legendary Head Football Coach Vince Dooley Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Monken Brian Bohannons Coaching Career Brian Bohannons Postseason History Brian Bohannon made history on March 24, 2013 when he was named the first football coach in the history of Kennesaw State University.                 As the program enters its second season in 2016, Bohannon looks to continue the momentum from a dazzling debut in 2015 that saw the Owls finish 6-5, roll up eye-popping numbers out of the spread option offense and sellout every home game at Fifth Third Bank while going 5-1 in front of raucous crowds.                 In 18 years as either a college assistant or head coach, Bohannon has been part of teams that averaged 8.6 wins per season, reached the postseason 15 times and won a pair of national championships while at Georgia Southern.                 A Griffin, Ga., native and former wide receiver at the University of Georgia, Bohannon joined the Owls after spending the previous five seasons as quarterbacks/B-backs coach at Georgia Tech where he helped engineer one of the countrys most prolific spread option offenses.                 His first team at Kennesaw State rushed for 293.0 yards per game, which led the Big South Conference and ranked sixth nationally. It was the second-best single-season rushing effort by a Big South team since VMIs 357.5 yards in 2008. The Owls lit up the scoreboard with 41 touchdowns and 429.8 yards of total offense.                 It didnt take the nation long to realize Kennesaw States explosiveness. KSU blitzed East Tennessee State, 56-16, on the road in a match-up of two programs playing their first-ever games. The next week, the Owls were welcomed home for the first time and pounded Edward Waters, 58-7, in front of 9,506 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.                 Bohannons Owls began their debut season 4-1 in non-conference action and made history again with a 12-7 win over Gardner-Webb on October 17 as Kennesaw State became the first Big South member to win its first conference game in its initial year as a member.                 The early-season success gave Bohannons team national recognition in the Top 25 polls for the first time in program history, as KSU spent three consecutive weeks among teams receiving votes in the FCS Stats Top 25 beginning October 19.                 Another Big South win over Monmouth, 23-13, allowed the Owls to clinch a winning record and the team would finish 6-5 to tie Georgia State for the third-best record by an FCS program in its inaugural season.                 Four Owls received Big South honors as DB Taylor Henkle was named to the first team, while DB Derrick Farrow and OL Malik Letatau earned second-team nods. Senior WR Prentice Stone was named to the All-Academic Team and would become the programs first graduate this past May.                 Bohannon himself earned praise as well as he was inducted to the Griffin-Spalding Hall of Fame  and was named the state of Georgias 2016 Most Positive College Head Coach by Positive Athlete Georgia a program spearheaded by Hines Ward.                 Bohannon was formally introduced as head coach at a press conference inside the locker room at Fifth Third Bank Stadium before a standing-room only audience that included media, family, friends, KSU Athletics administration and coaches, members of the University community and invited guests on March 26, 2013.                 Since his arrival at Kennesaw State, Bohannon and his staff have been tireless in their efforts to attract high-quality student-athletes to The Nest. He signed his first recruiting class of 29 players on Feb. 5, 2014, added 16 future Owls on Feb. 4, 2015, and inked 18 more on the most recent National Signing Day.                 Bohannon brought 17 seasons of coaching experience at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) levels to Kennesaw State, all of which came under spread option mastermind Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech, Navy and Georgia Southern.                 During Bohannons time at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets finished in the top four nationally in rushing offense every season and led the nation in rushing in 2010. No team in college football rushed for more yards than Georgia Tech, which accumulated more than 20,000 yards during his last five seasons.                 Under Bohannons direction, former Georgia Tech quarterbacks Tevin Washington and Joshua Nesbitt emerged as two of the most prolific signal callers in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history. Nesbitt and Washington combined to rush for more than 5,000 yards and rank first and third, respectively, in ACC history for career rushing yards by a quarterback.                 Under Bohannon, four players rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season -- B-back Jonathan Dwyer in 2008, Dwyer and Nesbitt in 2009, and B-back Anthony Allen in 2010. Dwyer was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2008 and 2009. Nesbitt was the first-team All-ACC quarterback in 2009, and Allen was first-team All-ACC in 2010. Dwyer and Allen went on to NFL careers.                 Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Bohannon spent six years as wide receivers coach at Navy. He was part of a staff that returned the Midshipmen to the national spotlight. Navy won 35 games over four years, earning a school-record four consecutive bowl berths and a school-best four straight Commander-In-Chiefs Trophies.                 Prior to his appointment on Johnsons staff at Navy, Bohannon coached the wide receivers for three seasons at Georgia Southern before taking over the defensive backs his last two years.                 In each of those five seasons in Statesboro, the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, finished as national runner-up in 1998 and claimed back-to-back national championships in 1999 and 2000.                 A four-year letterwinner and standout wide receiver at Georgia, Bohannon started his coaching career at West Georgia before earning his first full-time position at Gardner-Webb (N.C.) as wide receivers coach in 1996.                 Bohannon earned his bachelors degree in general business from Georgia in 1993 and a masters in business education from West Georgia in 1996.                 He is married to the former Melanie Cobb and the couple has three children, sons Blake Patrick and Braden Thomas, and daughter Brooke Anna. The family resides in Woodstock, Ga. What Theyre Saying About Brian Bohannon Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson Legendary Head Football Coach Vince Dooley Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo Georgia Southern head coach Jeff Monken Brian Bohannons Coaching Career Brian Bohannons Postseason History Brian Bohannons Coaching Career Brian Bohannons Postseason History

Sally Whitesell is in her first season as assistant director of operations for Kennesaw State football. She arrives in Kennesaw after serving as an assistant with Tennessee football operations in 2024. She worked closely with coaches and staff on scheduling and event logistics, as well as administrative preparation and travel builds. Whitesell earned her bachelor's of science in recreation and sports management from Tennessee in 2024 and is projected to earn her master's from Tennessee in 2026.  

Bland helped guide a group of cornerbacks that made significant strides throughout the 2015 season, helping the Owls go 6-5 overall and an impressive 5-1 mark at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.   Under his guidance, the cornerbacks anchored a defense that produced 18 takeaways as a team, including 13 interceptions and five fumble recoveries. The Owls secondary recorded two interceptions in a single game on four different occasions and as seven different players intercepted a pass for KSU.   Bland arrived at Kennesaw State after spending three seasons working with the defensive backs for Brevard University. He assumed the role of co-Defensive Coordinator prior to the 2013 season where he coached junior linebacker Michael Gruber to Division II All-America honorable mention honors.   Before his stint with the Tornados, Bland spent time at East Carolina University, where he served three years as a defensive assistant for the Pirates. Bland helped coach ECU to a Conference USA championship in 2009, along with appearances in the 2009 Liberty Bowl and 2010 Military Bowl. Bland began his coaching career as defensive backs coach at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, N.C., where the Trojans posted a 7-5 record and advanced to the North Carolina state playoffs in 2008. A two-sport athlete at Elon University, Bland played football and baseball for the Phoenix. He led the team in interceptions as a junior, and was named team captain as a senior. Bland graduated from Elon with a bachelors degree in leisure and sport management in 2008.

Newberry led a defense that made remarkable strides throughout the season in 2015, producing 18 takeaways as a team, including 13 interceptions and five fumble recoveries. Newberrys group forced at least one turnover in nine of 11 games and scored three defensive touchdowns.   Under Newberry, Kennesaw State held 10 of 11 opponents under 200 rushing yards while two teams failed to gain 100 yards. The Owls also made things difficult in the air, as KSUs defense recorded two interceptions in a single game four different times. The defense totaled seven different players that intercepted a pass and also totaled at least one sack in 10 of the 11 games.   Newberrys defense was led by first-team All-Big South DB Taylor Henkle and second-team DB Derrick Farrow. Henkle led the Owls and finished fourth in the Big South Conference with 65 tackles and tied the league with four interceptions. Meanwhile, Farrow placed second on the team with 63 tackles and tied ninth in the FCS with four forced fumbles, including three in one game.   Kennesaw State held its opponents scoreless in the first quarter in five of 11 games and blanked the opposition in eight of 11 games in the third quarter.   Newberry joined the Kennesaw State coaching staff after spending the 2012 season as defensive coordinator at Division II Northern Michigan. While leading the defensive unit, Newberry coached first-team Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) defensive lineman Zach Anderson and three linebackers who received GLIAC honorable mention recognition.   Prior to his one season at Northern Michigan, Newberry served as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., in 2011 where the Tigers improved their scoring defense by 16 points per game, and total defense by 85 yards a contest. Newberrys coaching experience also includes four seasons (2007-10) as defensive backs coach at Elon and five years (2004-06, 2001 and 2002) as defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at Washington & Lee University. He also served as a graduate assistant/defensive line coach at Rice during the spring of 2004, spent one season as a defensive backs coach at Lehigh and began his coaching career at Southern Arkansas where he was a graduate assistant coaching the defensive backs and wide receivers in 1999 and 2000.   While defensive backs coach at Elon, Newberry mentored five players who earned All-Southern Conference honors and in 2009, the Phoenix defense ranked fifth nationally in total defense.   In 2004, Newberrys Washington & Lee defense produced a school-record 43 sacks and ranked among the Division III leaders in rushing defense. The Generals defense led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in pass defense, rush defense and scoring defense in 2005 and in 2006, Washington & Lee forced 30 turnovers and ranked among the nations leaders in pass defense.   Newberry played collegiately at Baylor and graduated in 1998 with a bachelors of science degree in education. He helped the Bears to the Southwest Conference co-championship and an appearance in the 1994 Alamo Bowl and to a No. 5 national ranking in total defense in 1995.

Glanton, the running game proved to be an important piece to the Owls offense in 2015, averaging 293.0 rushing yards per game, which led the Big South and ranked second in league history. KSUs 3,398 rushing yards in 2015 ranked as the fifth-highest single-season total in Big South history and rushed for more than 300 yards in a game five different times, which fell three shy of the Big South Conference record. The Owls became just the second team in Big South history with 300 rushing yards and 300 passing yards in a single game and recorded a team-high for yards on the ground in the season.   Glanton took over a startup program at South Paulding in 2006 and led the Spartans to a 29-33 mark in seven years, including 6-4 records in his final three seasons. He also coached 30 players that earned college scholarships. Prior to his tenure at South Paulding, Glanton assumed the reins of a struggling East Paulding High School program in 2003 that was just 2-38 in the previous four seasons. The best season of his three-year tenure came in 2004 when Glanton guided the Raiders to a 6-4 mark -- the programs first winning season in 10 years. The teams turnaround helped earn Glanton 7AAAA Coach of the Year honors.    Glantons 23 years as a high school football coach also included time at Villa Rica (2002-03; offensive coordinator), Paulding County (2001-02; offensive coordinator), Brooks County (1998-2001; head coach) and Tift County (1995-98; assistant coach).    Glanton played collegiately at West Georgia College (1985-90) where Bohannon was a graduate assistant coach.  He joined the program as a walk-on wide receiver before earning a scholarship. Glanton earned a bachelors in recreation management in 1989 and health and physical education in 1990.    A native a Rome, Ga., Glanton and his wife, Latonya, have two children, Megan and Tim, Jr., and reside in Villa Rica, Ga. 

Daniels led the wide receivers to an impressive inaugural season, as the Owls offense averaged 136.8 receiving yards per game. The group totaled 79 receptions and 10 touchdown catches throughout a 6-5 campaign. The receivers also averaged 19.1 yards per catch on the season.   Under Daniels guidance, redshirt freshman Justin Sumpter flourished as Kennesaw States primary aerial target. He caught 26 passes for 525 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 20.2 yards a receptions to rank sixth in the country in yards per receptions. Sumpter had three catches of 46 or more yards, including a 69-yard TD receptions in the inaugural game at East Tennessee State.   Daniels also guided one of four seniors on the team, wide out P.J. Stone, to become KSUs first graduate in program history. Stone earned Big South Conference All-Academic honors and graduated magna cum laude with a 3.75 GPA and majored in exercise science.   Daniels joined the KSU coaching staff after spending three seasons (2011-13) as running backs coach at Statesboro High School in Georgia. He spent the 2013 season as offensive coordinator. While coaching at Statesboro High, Daniels and the Blue Devils compiled a three-year record of 28-6 (.823) and advanced to the state playoffs each season. Daniels coached one season (2010) at the University at Buffalo where he served as the Bulls running backs coach and academic liaison. He began his coaching career at Alcorn State where he worked as tight ends coach from December 2007 to June 2008. Prior to arriving at Buffalo, Daniels was a graduate assistant/wide receivers coach at his alma mater, the University of Cincinnati. That season, the Bearcats went 12-0 in the regular season, captured the 2009 Big East Conference title and received a BCS Bowl berth to the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl.  Daniels was a four-year letterwinner at Cincinnati from 2003-07 where he was a triple threat as a wide receiver, running back and return man.   Daniels served as a team captain and earned the Jim Kelly Spirit Award in 2007 while playing for head coach Brian Kelly. He was a multiple-year honoree on the Bearcats Academic Honor Roll en route to earning his bachelors degree in criminal justice in 2007. Daniels is married to Dr. Yelandra Daniels, whose father is former major league baseball player Lee May. May is in the Halls of Fame of both the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles.  

Andrew Clausen was named director of football communications at Kennesaw State in July 2024. He also serves as the contact for women’s golf.   Prior to Kennesaw, Clausen served as the assistant director of athletic communications and public relations at Georgia Tech from 2018-24, working as the primary contact for baseball, as well as the secondary contact for the football program. He had also previously served as the primary contact for men’s tennis, swimming and diving, and track and field/cross country, in addition to handling secondary contact duties for men’s basketball.  Clausen returned to Georgia Tech after his first stint at Kennesaw State, working as assistant director for athletic communications. While at KSU, he aided in the public relations efforts for Kennesaw’s 18-sport department of athletics and handled the day-to-day communications duties for its nationally ranked FCS football program in addition to being the primary contact for women’s basketball and baseball.   Prior to Kennesaw, Clausen worked in the sports information office at his alma mater, Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. as the Mountaineers made their transition from FCS Southern Conference to FBS Sun Belt Conference. As a student intern and then a postgraduate intern, he handled the publicity and communication efforts for baseball, men’s and women’s tennis, wrestling, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s soccer.  In addition to his time in collegiate athletics, Clausen also served in the Charlotte Hornets communications office in 2015 and coordinated the media relations efforts for the 2017 15U USA Baseball World Champions.  Clausen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications: journalism in May 2016. He is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Georgia Sports Writers Association (GSWA) and is a former member of the North Carolina Sports Information Association (NCCSIA). 

Mike Kershaw was named the general manager for Kennesaw State football in December 2024.   Prior to Kennesaw, Kershaw was a veteran college football coach, serving most recently as the head coach at Mississippi College (2024) after a long stint at Rice (2018-2023).   Before coaching in Clinton, Miss., Kershaw had a remarkable coaching stint at Rice University, where he helped steer the Rice Owls to commendable success, culminating in a 6-6 overall record in the 2023 season — the team's highest win total since 2014.   During his tenure at Rice, Kershaw played a pivotal role in leading the Rice Owls to consecutive bowl berths, with an appearance in the 2023 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl and 2022 LendingTree Bowl. While at Rice, Kershaw coached two NFL wide receivers in Luke McCaffrey (selected in the third round) and Austin Trammell, who signed as an undrafted free agent.   Under Kershaw's guidance, the Rice Owls' offensive prowess shone brightly, averaging 30.25 points per game and demonstrating a balanced attack, amassing 376.8 yards per game—264.17 passing yards and 112.6 rushing yards. Quarterback JT Daniels concluded the regular season with impressive stats, showcasing his talent with 2,443 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.   Rice’s offense boasted a formidable receiving unit, led by Luke McCaffrey, with 963 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, showcasing the team's depth with multiple receivers surpassing the 350-yard mark.   Kershaw's coaching expertise extends beyond wide receivers, having coached quarterbacks, wide receivers, and safeties at Delta State University. His tenure at DSU included guiding the top-ranked offense in Division II in 2004 and leading the 2006 squad to the NCAA Division II National Championship semifinals.   Kershaw also coached quarterbacks, wide receivers, and safeties at Delta State (1999-2006), helping guide the top-ranked offense in Division II in 2004 and the 2006 squad to the NCAA Division II National Championship semifinals.  He also served as DSU’s recruiting coordinator from 2004-06.   He produced a pair of two-time All-Americans at Delta State including quarterback Scott Eyster, who remains DSU’s career passing leader as well as two others who were twice honored as honorable mention All-Americans.   Overall, he has produced 23 all-conference selections in his coaching career.   Kershaw was also a standout quarterback for DSU for two seasons, leading the team to its first Gulf South Conference championship in 1998.  He earned his bachelor’s of science in business administration in 2000 before earning a master’s of education in 2003.   He is the son of former CFL executive Phil Kershaw, who served as president of both Saskatchewan and Ottawa as well as CFL Chairman in 1991-92.   Kershaw resides in Kennesaw with his wife, Kristi. They have two children, Riley and Karson.

Downing helped guide a group of defensive ends that thrived in their first season on the gridiron.   Under Downings leadership, senior Mason Harris led the defensive ends with 12 tackles for a loss and a pair of sacks. Harris proved to be a force on the defensive line all season under Downing, compiling 32 tackles and two forced fumbles in 11 games.   Downing spent four years as an assistant at Elon where he coached the defensive ends (2010) and wide receivers (2011-13).   While serving as Elons wide receivers coach, Downing helped guide one of the top Football Bowl Championship (FCS) Divisions talents in Aaron Mellette. In 2011, Mellette set an Elon and Southern Conference record with 1,639 receiving yards and led all of the FCS in both receptions per game (10.27) and receiving yards per game (149.00) on his way to being named to seven All-American squads and finishing fifth in the voting for the 2010 Walter Payton Award, the top individual honor at the FCS level. Phoenix receivers accounted for an average of 281.45 yards per game in 2011.   Downing helped Mellette again lead the SoCon in receiving in 2012 as the senior caught 97 passes for 1,398 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was named to numerous All-America squads and placed eighth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award. Mellette became Elons first representative in the prestigious Senior Bowl and was 2013 a seventh-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens. Before his time with the Phoenix, Downing spent four years (2006-09) as recruiting coordinator/wide receivers and defensive backs coach at Winston-Salem State University. An Edenton, N.C. native, Downing worked with the Rams defensive backs and safeties before serving as wide receivers coach for his final three years. Downing is a 2004 graduate of North Carolina Central University where he played football in 2001 and 2002. During the 2001 campaign, Downing played a key role in helping the Eagles defense become the top-rated unit at the NCAA Division II level. He earned a bachelors degree in health and physical education in 2004. Downing and his wife, Nia, have three children, Kevin, Jr., Kailey and Kaiden.  

Chesnut in its much-anticipated 2015 inaugural season, setting a high standard offensively with back-to-back 50-plus point games to jumpstart Kennesaw States football program.   The Owls offense scored 56 points at East Tennessee State on Sept. 3, 2015 in their inaugural game, which marked the most points scored by a Big South member in a season opener against an FCS opponent, and the fourth-most points scored overall in an opening game of a season since the leagues formation in 2002.   Kennesaw State followed that performance by scoring 58 points over Edward Waters in its first-ever home game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.   Nationally, Chestnut saw his offense rank fourth in the FCS in third down conversion percentage (50.0), first in yards per pass completion (19.05), seventh in sacks allowed (0.82), fifth in rushing offense (293.0) and 16 in time of possession (32.39).     A native of Snellville, Ga., Chesnut has been associated with winning programs throughout his career, and prior to taking over as head coach at Central High School, was recognized by the Atlanta Journal Constitution as one of the Top 10 hires of 2011.   He took over a Central High School team that went 0-10 in 2010 and guided the Lions to a 4-6 record in 2011 and 5-6 mark in 2012. His 2013 squad advanced to the Georgia state playoffs for the first time in 10 years.   Chesnut was the offensive coordinator, offensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Class AAA Mary Persons from 2007-10. Prior to his stint with the Bulldogs, he served as the defensive line coach at Camden County High School (2005-06), the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Thomasville High School (2002-04) and the offensive line coach at Pickens County High School (1999). Chesnut also was a defensive line coach at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. for two seasons (2000 and 2001) where the Blue Hose went a combined 15-6 (.714).   During Chesnuts four seasons at Mary Persons High, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 27-15 (.643). In two years at Camden County, he helped guide the Wildcats to a 22-3 (.880) mark that included an Elite Eight appearance and Region 3 AAAAA championship in 2005. The 2006 squad reached the Sweet Sixteen and captured the Region 3 AAAAA championship.    While working on the defensive side of the ball for three seasons at Thomasville High, Chesnut was part of a coaching staff that led the Bulldogs to a 24-9 (.727) overall record and won three regional titles.    Chesnut earned a bachelors degree in social science education from Georgia Southern in 1999 and a masters in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2004. During his junior and senior seasons as an offensive tackle at Southern, he was part of Eagle teams that won the Southern Conference Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs in 1997 and advanced to the 1998 NCAA national championship game, finishing the year with a 14-1 record.      Chesnut, who played high school football at Brookwood High in Snellville, is married to the former Heather Harris, and the couple has three daughters Brin, Allie Grace and Eva Claire.

Worley tutored starting quarterback Trey White to an impressive campaign. The dual-threat White fell just 36 rushing yards short of becoming the first player to reach 1,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single season in Big South Conference history.   Under Worley, White spear-headed an offense that ranked fourth in the FCS in third down conversion percentage (50.0) and first in yards per pass completion (19.05), while averaging 429.8 total yards and 28.9 points per game. Worley came to Kennesaw State staff after coaching the quarterbacks and B-backs at The Citadel in 2013 He served the previous two years (2011 and 2012) as the Bulldogs quality control coach. During the 2013 season, Worley mentored senior quarterback Ben Dupree, who surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark while tying The Citadels single-season touchdown record of 21 after rushing for 18 scores and passing for three. His 18 rushing touchdowns were a single-season record by a quarterback. Worley also was instrumental in developing senior B-back Darien Robinson into a 2013 TSN second-team All-America selection. Robinson led the Bulldogs with a 183 receiving yards and was second on the team with two touchdown receptions. He rushed for 987 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Worley joined the Bulldogs staff in July 2011 as special teams and quality control coach. The next year he moved to offensive quality control coach and assistant quarterbacks and B-backs coach.  Worley played collegiately at Furman, where as a senior in 2010, he threw for 1,496 yards and accounted for 19 touchdowns. He merited a spot on the Southern Conferences Academic Honor Roll in 2007-08 and received his bachelors degree in communication studies from Furman in December 2010.   He completed work on a masters certification in health, exercise and sport sciences from The Citadel in July 2012.   Worley and his wife, Adrienne, were married on April 11, 2015.

Klein serves as the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach for the Owls.   Under Klein, senior DE Mason Harris had a big season by totaling 12 tackles for a loss and a pair of sacks. Harris proved to be a force on the defensive line all season with 32 tackles and two forced fumbles in 11 games.   Klein has also overseen the development of McKenzie Billingslea and Nick Perrotta, who each made significant contributions on KSUs defensive front.   Prior to his arrival in The Nest, Klein directed Georgia Techs coaching clinics, camps and other events while administering the Jackets on-campus recruiting efforts and serving as the teams academic liaison.   During his 11 seasons on The Flats, Georgia Tech made 10 bowl appearances, including the 2012 Hyundai Sun Bowl, a 21-7 victory over USC.   Before being promoted in 2007, Klein served as a graduate assistant for three seasons, working with the Yellow Jackets nationally-ranked defense. In addition to preparing scouting reports and coordinating the scout team, he helped coach linebackers in 2006 after assisting with the defensive line in 2004-05. During his three seasons as a graduate assistant, Georgia Techs defense ranked in the top 30 in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense.   Klein originally joined Techs staff prior to the 2003 season and spent six months as assistant director of football operations before moving to the coaching staff.   Before moving to Atlanta, Klein served as outside linebackers and safeties coach for Harvard in 2002, and defensive line coach at Lafayette College in 2001.   A three-year starter on the offensive line for Monmouth University, Klein earned a bachelors degree from Monmouth in education and interdisciplinary in history and political science in 2001.   A native of Norwood, NJ, Klein, his wife, Katie, and son, James, reside in Smyrna, Ga. 

Cook, the tackles helped lead an offense that averaged an impressive 429.8 total yards per game and 28.9 points per game, including 293.0 rushing yards per game, which led the Big South and ranked second in league history.   The tackles paved way for a rushing attack that rushed for 3,398 yards in 2015, which ranked as the fifth-highest single-season total in Big South history and rushed for more than 300 yards in a game five different times, which fell three shy of the Big South Conference record.   Cook arrived from the nearby University of West Georgia where he spent the 2013 season as the programs defensive line coach after coaching the tight ends/H-Backs in 2012.   Cook was a four-year letterman for the Wolves, playing the fullback and H-back positions. He was named a team captain prior to his junior campaign in 2009. Following his playing career, Cook remained at West Georgia as both a student assistant, and then graduate assistant.   Cook is a 2011 graduate of UWG where he earned a bachelors degree in health and physical education.   Cook and his wife, Ashli, were married on April 18, 2015.