Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (DL)
Kentwan Balmer was named the defensive line coach in February 2025. Balmer brings ten years of coaching experience as well as ten years of collegiate and professional playing experience, including playing in the National Football League, to the Bison.
Balmer has worked as a coach in every aspect of the defensive game including defensive ends, defensive tackles and defensive line. He has also had time as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Balmer has coached one Freshman All-American, nine all-conference players and three conference all-academic players. Balmer also saw his teams to one spring conference championship, two top 25 FCS program wins and multiple defensive category ranking jumps.
Most recently, Balmer served as an assistant head coach and defensive line coach for Hampton University for the past three seasons after being elevated from the defensive line coach from 2021-2022. Balmer completely uprooted the defense at Hampton that nationally ranked 110th in total defense, 113th in third down defense and 79th in takeaways and improved it to a team that nationally ranked 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 in the 2024 season. The Pirates became the top team in total defense in the CAA under Balmer and led the conference in sacks in 2021-2022.Â
Prior to Hampton, Balmer served as a defensive ends coach at Alabama A&M in 2021. While there, his defense led the conference in hurries and sacks and the team was named undefeated SWAC spring ball champions.Â
Before Alabama A&M, Balmer was a defensive analyst and defensive tackles coach at Samford University where he aided in two notable wins against top 25 FCS programs when the Bulldogs defeated #21 Wofford and #25 Citadel.Â
Balmer also made collegiate coaching stops at Virginia University of Lynchburg as an assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach and Shaw University as a special teams coordinator and assistant defensive line coach.Â
Balmer found success as a student athlete at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a team captain, All-American and All-ACC athlete. He entered the NFL Draft in 2008 and was a first round pick. Balmer played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins. Balmer was the Most Improved Player for the 49ers in 2009 and was a part of the Seahawks in 2010 when they were the NFC West season champion.
