Kelvin Green is in his first season as defensive line coach for Purdue Football. Green reunites with head coach Barry Odom after spending the past three seasons at Arkansas.
While working with the Razorbacks, Green served as senior defensive quality control for the past two seasons after beginning his time in Arkansas as defensive quality control during the 2022 campaign. Arkansas' rush defense improved each season during Green's tenure, rising from 93rd all the way to 32nd in the nation in 2024 (121.8 yards per game). Green worked with six Razorbacks that earned All-SEC accolades, including two-time honoree Landon Jackson, the team's sack leader the past two seasons with 6.5 each year.
In 2023, Green helped an Arkansas defense that allowed only 357.2 yards per game, the program's lowest since 2014. That unit ranked fourth in the SEC, surrendering just 202.8 yards per game through the air. During the 2022 season, Green's first in Fayetteville and working under Odom, linebacker Drew Sanders was named an All-American by The Associated Press.
Prior to Arkansas, Green spent nine seasons at Delta State, including three years as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He also coached linebackers and defensive line during his time with the Statesmen.
In his first season as defensive coordinator in 2019, the Delta State defense led the GSC in total defense (309.2 ypg/29th NCAA), rush defense (122.0 ypg/36th NCAA) and sacks per game (2.70) while also ranking second in red zone defense (.714/38th NCAA).
Green's defense produced five All-GSC performers, two All-Americans and five Gulf South Conference Players of the Week in 2019. Junior Faulk, and Vada King earned First Team All-GSC accolades, while Eric Sadler and Marvin Terry earned second team honors. Falk was named a finalist for the C-Spire Conerly Trophy, which is given each year to the top collegiate player in Mississippi, and also nabbed All-American and Academic All-GSC honors. In the classroom, 13 defensive players were named to the 2019 Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Roll with a 3.0 GPA or higher. The team's overall team GPA was a 3.1 and the defensive GPA was a 3.0.
During the 2018 season, defensive lineman Tramond Lofton ranked third in sacks (6.0) and fourth in tackles-for-loss (10.0) in the GSC, while Ovenson Cledanord finished fourth in sacks (4.5) and fifth in tackles-for-loss (9.5). Lofton and fellow defensive lineman Eric Sadler were also named to the All-GSC Second Team.
In 2017, the Statesmen led the Gulf South Conference in rushing defense, sacks and tackles-for-loss. The 45 sacks were sixth in NCAA Division II, with Green's charges accounting for 22. The Statesmen also ranked 14th in NCAA Division II in tackles-for-loss (110), with the defensive line accounting for 46. Green also coached Brandon Gaddy, who was named Second Team All-GSC and First Team All-Region.
Under Green's guidance in 2016, the Statesmen defensive line amassed 19 of the defense's 23 sacks and 46 of the team's 83 tackles-for-loss. The 2015 defense led the GSC in TFLs (119), ninth nationally, and finished second in the GSC in sacks (33). More specifically, the defensive line was responsible for 46 tackles-for-loss and 16.5 sacks.
In 2014, the Statesmen finished sixth nationally in sacks (39), 24 tallied by the defensive line, and led the nation in tackles-for-loss (119), including 46.5 notched by the defensive front. Randall Boyd was named First Team All-GSC and All-South Region. Green was also responsible for recruiting Richard Nash, a First Team and Second Team All-South Region selection, and Romelo Wilson, who also earned Second Team All-GSC and All-South Region honors.
The Statesmen defensive front increased production when Green took over in 2013. DSU led the Gulf South Conference in run defense and ranked second in sacks. First Team All-GSC selection Diego Lubin finished third in sacks and second in tackles-for-loss in the GSC, while Second Team All-GSC selection Adrian Dinkins ranked sixth in the conference in tackles-for-loss and 12th in sacks.
Green came to the Delta from Columbia High School out of Atlanta, Georgia where he served as the offensive line coach from 2009-12 and defensive coordinator from 2010-11. Columbia recorded their first winning season in years and first playoff berth in 10 seasons while Green served as defensive coordinator.
Green lettered one year at Georgia Military College in 2004-05 before transferring to Clemson University to complete his degree in 2007. Green graduated from Clemson with a bachelor's degree in park, recreation and tourism management in 2009 in addition to his associate's degree in applied science in 2006.
The Atlanta native is married to the former Dominique Neville and are the parents of two daughters, Laila and Maya.
