Richard Kent

Richard Kent Is an American football coach with recent history as the defensive backs coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He is a former college football player and coach with extensive coaching and scouting experience in NFL Europe, the CFL and the United Football League.

Coaching Career
Kent has coached for 16 seasons in the collegiate ranks of American football. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State University and Master's degree from Clemson University. Kent's college teams achieved two FBS Bowl games, five national playoff appearances, five conference championships and an undefeated season. From 1991-2000 his teams recorded a record of 88-25-1. Kent has since coached in professional football for NFL Europe, the Canadian Football League and United Football League.

Over the years Kent has coached at the following schools:
 * Lexington Senior High School (North Carolina) (1984; QB & RB Coach)
 * Clemson (1985–1986; Graduate Assistant Coach)
 * Jacksonville State University (1987; Tight End/ Offensive Tackle Coach)
 * Austin Peay State University (1987–1988; Linebacker & Wide Receiver Coach)
 * Catawba College (1988–1991; Defensive Coordinator/ Secondary, Linebacker, Defensive Line Coach)
 * Troy State (1992–1994; Defensive Coordinator, Secondary Coach, Linebacker Coach, Recruiting Coordinator)
 * Texas Southern University (1995; Special Teams Coordinator / Assistant Secondary Coach)
 * Catawba College (1995–2000; Assistant Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator/ Secondary Coach)

While at Clemson, the Clemson Tigers played in two Bowl games, winning the ACC Championship Game and the 1986 Gator Bowl.

Notable current NFL players Kent has coached include; Brent Grimes, Andrew Adams, Michael Wilhoite, Matt Overton and Kyle Nelson.

NFL Europe
From 1999-2007, Kent coached in NFL Europe ("NFLE") where he served with the Scottish Claymores for three years (1999–2001) as Secondary Coach and Special Teams Coordinator (2001), He was also Secondary Coach for the Berlin Thunder (2002–2003), Cologne Centurions (2004) and Amsterdam Admirals (2005–2007). The 2007 season marked Kent's second campaign as Amsterdam's Defensive Coordinator. While in Amsterdam, Kent also served as Player Personnel Director & Special Teams Coordinator. In addition to coaching, Kent worked with NFLE Director of International Player & Game Development Tony Allen in scouting and developing NFL prospects from around the world. Kent helped lead Scotland (2000), Berlin (2002) and Amsterdam (2005-06) to the World Bowl game, winning the championship in 2002 and 2005. During the Berlin and Amsterdam World Bowl winning seasons, their defenses led NFLE in takeaways and interceptions.

Notable NFL players Kent coached in NFLE include; Dante Hall, Brent Grimes, Atari Bigby, Duane Hawthorne, B.J. Tucker, Jeremy Cain, Glen Pakulak, Tony Brown and Earl Cochran.

Canadian Football League
On January 27, 2009, Kent was announced as the Secondary Coach for the Toronto Argonauts, rejoining former Admirals head coach Bart Andrus, who had been recently hired as the new head coach for Toronto.

On March 22, 2010, Kent joined the Montreal Alouettes as Special Teams Coordinator & Secondary Assistant.

On December 14, 2012, it was announced that Kent had joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their Defensive Backs coach. During the 2013 CFL season Kent helped the Roughrider defense lead the CFL in nine categories including takeaways, interceptions and passing touchdowns allowed. On November 24, 2013, the Roughriders won the 101st Grey Cup 45-23 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.