CJ Conrad leaving Kent State football coaching staff to join Dolphins

CJ Conrad had an impressive 2025 season as the Kent State University football team's special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. And the NFL noticed.

The Miami Dolphins are hiring Conrad as an offensive assistant, a person familiar with the situation confirmed for the Beacon Journal on Feb. 20. Matt Zenith of CBS Sports first reported the development.

Kent State coach Mark Carney promoted Conrad from tight ends coach in 2024 to special teams coordinator and tight ends coach in 2025, when the Golden Flashes improved their record from 0-12 to 5-7.

In 2025, KSU's special teams had three returns for touchdowns, two by Da'Realyst Clark on kickoffs and one by Wayne Harris on a punt. Tight end Terik Mulder tallied 19 receptions for 198 yards and four touchdowns, tying for second on the team in TD receptions.

The 29-year-old Conrad was among 63 nominees for the Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant coach in college football. A national championship-winning defensive coordinator with Indiana, Bryant Haines won the 2025 award.

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A graduate of Keystone High School in LaGrange, Ohio, Conrad spent the past two seasons at Kent State after coaching tight ends at Eastern Kentucky for one season.

As a player, Conrad was a standout tight end at Kentucky and spent the 2019 season on the New York Giants practice squad.

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: CJ Conrad lands Miami Dolphins job after 2 seasons at Kent State