HOMETOWN: Weldon, N.C.
EDUCATION: B.A., Virginia University-Lynchburg, 2019
COACHING: Assistant, Shaw (N.C.), 2015-16
Assistant Head Coach, Kipp High, 2016-17
Assistant Head Coach, Virginia University-Lynchburg, 2018
Defensive Analyst, Samford, 2019-20
Assistant Coach, Alabama A&M, 2020-21
Assistant Coach, Hampton, 2021-22, 2024-present
Kentwan Balmer returns to the Hampton and a slot on Coach Trent Boykin's coaching staff. The former NFL first round pick (29th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers served with Prunty in 2020-21 and returns after two years away from the program.
Balmer played his collegiate football at North Carolina where he was team captain. He blossomed under Coach Butch Davis and was an honorable mention All-America pick and was named second-team All-ACC in 2007. After playing in the Senior Bowl, he was drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the 49ers. He spent two years as a defensive end with the 49ers and played with the Seattle Seahawks (2010), Carolina Panthers (2011), and Washington Redskins (2011-12).
His NFL career spanned six seasons and he was named San Francisco's Most Improved Player in 2009. Balmer was a member of the NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks in 2010.
A native of Ahoskie, N.C., he turned his energies to coaching in 2015 at Shaw (N.C.) where he served as special teams coordinator and assistant defensive line coach. After spending a year as an assistant coach at Kipp High School, he joined the coaching staff at Virginia University-Lynchburg as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2017-18.
In 2019, he was a defensive analyst at Samford before moving to Alabama A&M for two seasons (2020-21) as defensive ends coach. Alabama A&M won the SWAC title and his defensive line led the conference in sacks and hurries.
Balmer previously worked at Hampton as defensive line coach for Prunty in 2021-22.
He was a standout player at Weldon (N.C.) High and was named all-area and all-conference as a junior and again as a senior. As a senior, he was named the Area Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team while playing for Coach Grady Williams.
