CHICAGO, Ill. (December 29, 2025) – Chicago State University announced today that
Kentwan Balmer has been named the program's
first-ever Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach, solidifying a key leadership role for Cougar football.
Balmer was appointed as defensive line coach at Bucknell University in February 2025 and quickly made an impact with his extensive background as both a coach and player. He brings ten years of coaching experience and ten years of collegiate and professional playing experience, including a standout career in the National Football League.
Balmer has coached across every aspect of the defensive front—defensive ends, defensive tackles, and the full defensive line. His resume includes time as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, with a track record of developing talent at the highest levels. He has coached one Freshman All-American, nine all-conference players, and three conference all-academic honorees, while guiding teams to a spring conference championship, two top-25 FCS victories, and significant jumps in national defensive rankings.
Balmer served as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach for Hampton University for three seasons after being elevated from defensive line coach from 2021–2022. Balmer completely transformed the Pirates' defense, which previously ranked 110th nationally in total defense, 113th in third down defense, and 79th in takeaways. Under his leadership, Hampton surged to 22nd in total defense, 20th in third down defense, 25th in first down defense, 18th in sacks, 11th in takeaways, and fifth in defensive touchdowns during the 2024 season. The Pirates became the top team in total defense in the CAA and led the conference in sacks in 2021–2022.
Prior to Hampton, Balmer served as defensive ends coach at Alabama A&M in 2021, where his defense led the conference in hurries and sacks and helped the Bulldogs earn the undefeated SWAC spring championship.
Before Alabama A&M, Balmer was a defensive analyst and defensive tackles coach at Samford University, contributing to notable wins over top-25 FCS programs #21 Wofford and #25 Citadel. His earlier collegiate coaching stops include Virginia University of Lynchburg (assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, defensive line coach) and Shaw University (special teams coordinator, assistant defensive line coach).
As a player, Balmer was a standout at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a team captain, All-American, and All-ACC performer. Selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, he played for the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Washington Redskins. He was named Most Improved Player for the 49ers in 2009 and was part of the Seahawks' NFC West championship team in 2010.
"Kentwan Balmer's leadership and proven ability to transform defenses make him the perfect choice as Chicago State's first Assistant Head Coach," said head football coach
Bobby Rome II. "His experience at both the collegiate and professional levels will be instrumental as we continue to build Cougar football."
