KENT, Ohio (AP) — Darrell Hazell is the new Kent State coach after developing receivers Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr. into first-round draft picks during seven seasons as an Ohio State assistant.
Hazell becomes the Golden Flashes’ 20th head coach. He replaces Doug Martin, who resigned with a few weeks left in a 5-7 season and went 29-53 in seven years overall. He also helped design Ohio State’s offensive game plans.
Kent State athletic director Joel Nielsen interviewed a dozen candidates, including four on KSU’s campus: Hazell, Kent State defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis and wide receivers coaches Curt Cignetti of Alabama and Bobby Kennedy of Texas.
The last assistant to leave Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel for a head coaching job was Mark Snyder, to Marshall after the 2004 season.
