Mike Kent joined the Florida football staff as the Director of Strength & Conditioning following a three-year stint in the same role at Colorado State under head coach Jim McElwain.
Kent, who trained Darrelle Revis, Jordy Nelson and Deion Branch during their college careers, has 36 years of experience as a coach of football student-athletes, a career that includes 33 years as a highly-respected strength and conditioning instructor. He was recognized in 2013 as Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association, which signifies a commitment to student-athletes and the strength and conditioning profession.
Kent joined the Rams in 2012 from Appalachian State, where he'd served two stints (1990-99 and 2009-11) as head of the Mountaineers' strength and conditioning program for all student-athletes.
Including a school-record three Appalachian State players selected in a single draft (three in 2011) and eight total drafted players--counting five during his first stint at App State--Kent has physically and mentally conditioned over 40 future NFL athletes. Included on that list:
- DB Mark LeGree, OL Daniel Kilgore and LB D.J. Smith, all 2011 draft selections (worked with Kent at App State, 2009-10).
- QB Josh Freeman, Pro Bowler/first-round draft selection, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (K-State, 2007-08).
- WR Jordy Nelson, second-round selection, Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers (K-State, 2007).
- DB Joshua Moore, fifth-round selection, Chicago Bears (K-State, 2007-09).
- WR/KR Brandon Banks, two-year starter, Washington Redskins (K-State, 2007-09).
- CB Darrelle Revis, three-time first-team All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, first-round selection, N.Y. Jets (Pitt, 2004-06).
- OT Jeff Otah, first-round selection, Carolina Panthers (Pitt, 2004-06).
- LB Clint Session, fourth-round selection, Indianapolis Colts (Pitt, 2004-06).
- QB Dave Ragone, third-round selection, Houston Texans (Louisville, 2000-02).
- WR Deion Branch, Super Bowl MVP, second-round selection, New England Patriots (Louisville, 2000-01).
- DE Dewayne White, second-round selection, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Louisville, 2000-02).
- LB Dexter Coakley, three-time Pro Bowler, third-round selection, Dallas Cowboys (App State, 1993-96).
- QB Jeff Blake, Pro Bowler, eight-year starter, several teams (East Carolina, 1989-90).
- LB George Koonce, eight-year starter, Super Bowl champion, Green Bay Packers (East Carolina, 1988-90).
- WR Haywood Jeffires, three-time Pro Bowler, first-round selection, Houston Oilers (N.C. State, 1985-86).
NFL PLAYERS AT FLORIDA (ROUND DRAFTED)
LB Jarrad Davis (1st) – Florida ‘17 – Detroit Lions
S Marcus Maye (2nd) – Florida ’17 – New York Jets
CB Quincy Wilson (2nd) – Florida ’17 – Indianapolis Colts
CB Jalen “Teez” Tabor (2nd) – Florida ’17 – Detroit Lions
LB Alex Anzalone (3rd) – Florida ’17 – New Orleans Saints
T David Sharpe (4th) – Florida ’17 – Oakland Raiders
DT Caleb Brantley (6th) – Florida ’17 – Cleveland Browns
DT Joey Ivie (7th) – Florida ’17 – Dallas Cowboys
CB Vernon Hargreavesn (1st) – Florida ’16 ‘ - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
S Keanu Neal (1st) – Florida ’16 – Atlanta Falcons
DL Jon Bullard (3rd) – Florida ’16 – Chicago Bears
LB Antonio Morrison (4th) – Florida ’16 – Indianapolis Colts
DE Alex McCalister (7th) – Florida ’16 – Philadelphia Eagles
WR Demarcus Robinson (4th) – Florida ’16 – Kansas City Chiefs
RB Kelvin Taylor (6th) – Florida ’16 – San Francisco 49ers
The 1995 Southern Conference Strength Coach of the Year, Kent in between his tenures at Appalachian State, headed the football team's strength and conditioning program at four Division I universities. He spent three seasons (2007-09) at Kansas State, three years (2004-06) at Pitt, four campaigns (2000-03) at Louisville and one year (1999) at Eastern Kentucky.
Before overseeing the power and speed performances of all student-athletes at Appalachian State (1990-99), he served as assistant director of strength and conditioning at East Carolina from 1998-90.
The head strength coach at Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, W.V. from 1987-88, Kent also coached defensive line for that program. Before that, he laid much of his foundation in the field at North Carolina State, where from 1985-87 he served as graduate assistant, strength coach and assistant defensive line coach.
Kent invested four years into high school athletes, as a strength coach, offensive line coach and social studies teacher at Miramar (Fla.) High School from 1984-85, and as the head wrestling coach, assistant football and track coach, and weight room assistant at East Fairmont (W.V.) High School from 1982-84.
He launched his coaching career as a student-assistant working with defensive ends, and assisting in the weight room, at Fairmont (W.V.) from 1981-82.
A former outside linebacker, Kent played from 1978-79 at Potomac State College in West Virginia, and in 1980 at Fairmont State. A 1982 graduate of Fairmont State, he owns a bachelor's in education and social studies. He also earned a master's in recreation resource administration from N.C. State in 1987.
Kent is married (Deena), and is a member of the National Hot Rod Association. He hails from Parkersburg, W.V.
