Josh Cribbs reunites with Kent State football in coaching role

Kent State University and Browns legend Josh Cribbs is going back to his old college football stomping grounds.

Cribbs has been hired as a special teams analyst for the Kent State football team, KSU announced on Wednesday, April 29.

The 42-year-old Cribbs has previously dabbled in coaching, serving as a Browns intern in 2018 and a special teams coach for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in 2023. But now Cribbs is a member of Kent State coach Mark Carney’s staff.

Kent State football news: Golden Flashes coach Mark Carney receives Josh Cribbs’ approval

Josh Cribbs unites with Kent State football coach Mark Carney after expressing interest in Golden Flashes head coaching job

A former Kent State quarterback and Browns special teams star and wide receiver, Cribbs praised Carney in a video posted to social media April 14. In the video, Cribbs showed himself visiting KSU’s Dix Stadium during a spring practice. It turns out the three-time Pro Bowl return man with the Browns had foreshadowed the next chapter in his career.

In March 2025, Cribbs publicly expressed a desire to coach Kent State after former Golden Flashes coach Kenni Burns had been placed on administrative leave. In April 2025, KSU fired Burns and promoted Carney from offensive coordinator to interim coach.

Kent State sports: With KSU football, Mark Carney to regrow Northeast Ohio roots

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Born in Cleveland and raised in Lakewood, Carney took advantage of the opportunity. KSU finished the 2025 season with a record of 5-7, 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference, after going a combined 1-23 under Burns during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Last season, shortly after KSU improved to 3-5, 2-2 in the MAC, the school removed the interim tag from Carney and signed him through the 2029 season.

“What he has been able to do in just a short period of time, A-plus,” Cribbs said of Carney in the video posted to social media earlier this month.

Cribbs didn’t merely compliment Carney. Cribbs was impressed enough to join forces with Carney.

“Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to get to know Coach Josh Cribbs and have been blown away by his desire to share his wealth of knowledge built from his outstanding playing career here at Kent State and in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns,” Carney said in a news release. “His pride in our university and his experience here as a student-athlete is apparent in every conversation we’ve had. I’m excited to welcome him and his family back to the university as our new special teams analyst, and I am certain this is a sign of the exciting times ahead for us here at Kent State!”

Dolphins hired CJ Conrad, former Kent State special teams coach

Adding Cribbs’ vast football knowledge to the Kent State program could be a coup for Carney.

Kent State lost its special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in February when the Miami Dolphins hired CJ Conrad off Carney’s staff. In addition to hiring Cribbs, Kent State also named Dave Bucar its new tight ends coach.

Last season, Kent State’s special teams produced three returns for touchdowns, two by Da’Realyst Clark on kickoffs and one by Wayne Harris on a punt. Both players remain on KSU’s roster. In 2025, Clark was voted the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.

Now Clark, Harris and other Kent State players will have a chance to learn from Cribbs, one of the best to ever don a Golden Flashes uniform.

Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Josh Cribbs set to impact Kent State football as special teams analyst