Kennesaw State football head coach Brian Bohannon announced the hiring of Mike Pelton as the team’s new defensive ends coach Jan. 4, 2024. Pelton, a former fifth-round NFL Draft pick, adds over 20 years of coaching experience to the KSU staff, including five positions in the Power Five ranks. His lengthy player development success is highlighted by mentoring eight-time Pro Bowler Demarcus Ware.
“Mike is a great addition to our program,” said Bohannon. “He has played and coached at an extremely high level. I look forward to watching him develop our players as we transition into Conference USA.”
Pelton arrives at Kennesaw State after spending last season as the defensive coordinator at The University of the South, familiarly known as Sewanee.
Prior to The University of the South, the Goshen, Ala. native was the defensive line coach at Georgia Tech from 2013-18. In his five seasons, Pelton coached five All-ACC defensive linemen and mentored five players who went on to play in the NFL. Two of these student-athletes, Jeremiah Attaochu and Adam Gotsis, were selected in the second round.
Before coming to Atlanta, Pelton was the defensive line coach at Auburn for two seasons. While at his alma mater, he helped the Tigers to an 8-4 record and bowl victory over Virginia. This marked Auburn’s fourth all-time win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Pelton spent the 2010 season as the defensive line coach at Vanderbilt before returning to his alma mater.
He served in the same position at Iowa State from 2006-08 under future Auburn head coach Gene Chizik. With the Cyclones, Pelton had a pair of second-team all-Big 12 selections in Ahtyba Rubin and Kurtis Taylor. Rubin, a sixth-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, became a starter for the Cleveland Browns.
Pelton got his first Division I coaching position at Troy, where he served for six seasons. In his final two years with the Trojans, he served as the team’s co-defensive coordinator. At Troy, Pelton mentored Demarcus Ware, the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and eventual first-round NFL Draft pick, eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro.
In 2000, Pelton’s coaching career began as a defensive line coach at Valdosta State. The Blazers collected a 10-2 record and NCAA Division II playoff berth that season.
Pelton put together an impressive playing career at Auburn and was a four-year letterman. He recorded 10 sacks as a senior en route to a first team all-SEC selection. During his time, Pelton helped the Tigers win a school-record 20 consecutive games from 1993-94.
After his collegiate career, Pelton was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He then signed a free agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts.
Pelton graduated from Auburn with a bachelor's degree in health and sports science. He and his wife Staci have four daughters, Myesa, Tyra, Peyton and Taelah.
