Kennesaw, Georgia – On Sunday, Kennesaw State announced the appointment of Jerry Mack as the new head football coach, taking the reins from Brian Bohannon, who had been the program’s only coach until his dismissal with just three games remaining in the season. Mack joins the Owls after spending time as the running backs coach for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Mack, who is 44 years old, will lead a program that recently experienced a challenging transition to Conference USA. Following Bohannon, who led the team since its inception in 2015, Mack looks to revitalize the squad after a tough season that saw the Owls record a 2-10 overall and 2-6 conference record. Chandler Burks filled in as interim coach during the final phase of the season.
Expressing his gratitude for the new role, Mack stated, “I am grateful and honored to be entrusted as the leader and standard bearer of our team.” He emphasized his commitment to guiding the athletes in their pursuit of academic success, championships, and personal development, aiming to cultivate responsible citizens who the KSU community can take pride in.
Mack is returning to the college football landscape with a notable background, having previously served three years as a running backs coach at the University of Tennessee. His only prior experience in a head coaching capacity was at North Carolina Central University, where he led the team from 2014 to 2017. During his tenure, he achieved a strong record of 31 wins and 15 losses, including three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles.
Kennesaw State’s athletic director, Milton Overton, expressed confidence in Mack’s abilities, highlighting his two decades of coaching across various levels and his proven capability to build connections with players. Overton praised Mack’s relentless approach to recruiting and his experience implementing effective and high-paced offensive strategies.
Bohannon, who was instrumental in establishing the Kennesaw State football program, celebrated early success, guiding the team to the FCS playoffs in four of their first seven seasons. However, the transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) has proven more challenging, resulting in a lackluster performance with a record of 10-22 in the past three years. Mack now steps into this pivotal role with the hope of restoring the program to its former glory.
