The second year of Dave Canales’ tenure with the Carolina Panthers will bring significant changes to the coaching staff. On Thursday, the team announced several new hires ahead of next week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Notable additions include A.C. Carter as the new outside linebackers coach and Renaldo Hill as the new secondary coach. Additionally, Denny Kellington has been appointed as the Panthers’ new Vice President of Player Health & Performance.
New Coaching Staff Members
A.C. Carter, Outside Linebackers Coach:
Carter joins the Panthers after spending the past two seasons coaching the defensive line for the Los Angeles Rams, where he played a key role in developing standout rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. Before his time in LA, he worked as a defensive quality control coach for the Denver Broncos under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. He also spent five years coaching at the college level, with stops at Kansas and Eastern Illinois. A former colleague in the NFL described Carter as a “dynamic” coach with high energy and intelligence, making him a strong fit for the Panthers’ defensive front. He replaces Tem Lukabu, who was dismissed in January and has since joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as a linebackers coach.
Renaldo Hill, Secondary Coach:
Hill brings extensive experience as both a player and coach. The former NFL defensive back played 10 seasons, recording 19 interceptions, 61 pass breakups, and five forced fumbles across four teams. After transitioning to coaching in 2012, Hill worked at Wyoming and Pittsburgh before moving to the NFL in 2018. His coaching journey included stints with the Miami Dolphins as an assistant defensive backs coach, the Denver Broncos as a defensive backs coach, and the Los Angeles Chargers as a defensive coordinator. In 2022, he rejoined the Dolphins as a defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator but spent last season out of the league. Hill, 46, replaces former safeties coach Bert Watts, who was let go in January.
Keyshawn Colmon, Offensive Assistant Coach:
At just 24 years old, Colmon is an up-and-coming coaching talent. A former wide receiver at John Carroll University, he quickly climbed the coaching ranks after graduating in 2021. He worked as a graduate assistant at Dayton in 2022, took a similar role at Fresno State in 2023, and most recently served as the wide receivers coach for Sacramento State.
Kevin Peterson, Defensive Assistant Coach:
Like Hill, Peterson is a former NFL defensive back, having played six seasons with the Rams and Cardinals before retiring in 2021. He previously worked with Evero during his time in LA and spent last season coaching cornerbacks at Colorado State University Pueblo. Peterson has also had coaching fellowships with the Rams and Cardinals. He is expected to take over the role previously held by assistant defensive backs coach DeAngelo Hall, who departed last month.
New Health & Performance Staff
Denny Kellington, VP of Player Health & Performance:
Kellington worked alongside Panthers GM Dan Morgan during their time in Buffalo. Since joining the Bills’ athletic training staff in 2017, he progressed from assistant athletic trainer to associate head athletic trainer. He gained national recognition in 2023 for his quick response in administering CPR to save Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s life after he suffered cardiac arrest during a game. Kellington replaces former head athletic trainer Kevin King and former director of health, performance, and innovation Andrew Althoff.
Josh Hingst, Director of Performance:
Hingst arrives from the Minnesota Vikings, where he served as director of player performance for the past four seasons. Prior to that, he spent eight seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles as a strength and conditioning coach. His NFL career began with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 before moving to the Eagles in 2013. Hingst, a University of Nebraska alum, started his coaching career with the Cornhuskers.
Staff Promotions
The Panthers have promoted offensive assistant Mike Bercovici to assistant quarterbacks coach/pass game specialist. Bercovici, a holdover from the Frank Reich era, has been with the team since 2023. Additionally, defensive assistant Mayur Chaudhari has been elevated to assistant linebackers coach.
Additional Departures
Beyond the new hires, the Panthers have seen several staff members move on. Assistant offensive line coach Keli’i Kekuewa has taken a role with the Jaguars, while former offensive passing game coordinator Nate Carroll has joined his father, Pete Carroll, on the Las Vegas Raiders staff as an assistant quarterbacks coach. These moves follow the departures of Watts, Hall, Lukabu, and former defensive quality control coach Bobby Maffei.