Adam Pennington, associate head coach and sprints and hurdles coach, has served as a coach at Northwestern State University of Louisiana for five seasons. Since being promoted to associate head coach in 2015, he has been appreciated for his positive impact on the NSU Track and Field team.
His work has been recognized as 2023 USTFCCA’s (U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) South Central Assistant Coach of the Year for the women’s team.
NSU is not only a job for Coach Pennington, but it is also his former Alma Mater, as he was a former Demon runner for the university as his success is one of reasons that led him to be promoted to coach.
The USTFCCA’s award is open to power five universities and only the elite coaches in the conferences.
Coach Pennington so far in his career has the resume to classify in that category. Under Coach Pennington’s leadership the women’s sprinters placed second in the 2016 Southland Conference Outdoor Championship. While in the same championship under him, the men’s sprinters placed third.
The women’s second place record was tied in 2023 as they placed second under Pennington’s coaching ability.
One of Coach Pennington’s biggest strengths as a coach is his dedication to the players and getting the absolute best out of them every event they compete in. With the results and accomplishment piling up for the NSU track and field team.
One of his players, Sanaria Butler has won four events and was named Most Valuable Female Performer in a conference meet. She ran a 52.92 in the 400 race during the season breaking a conference record. He also coached her to win SLC Women’s Most Outstanding Player in outdoor championship in 2023.
On the men’s side, Zach Beard was named Second All-American in the 60-meter sprint. In one conference meet, Pennington coached the 60m, 200m, 400m, 60m hurdles and 4×400 relay which led the team to four gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal.
Despite all the success that Coach Pennington has brought to the athletic program not only as a player but also as a coach, he still gives most of the credit to the players and staff. “Usually, these awards are taken by power five universities, so I’m a little surprised. Also, I have to thank my athletes and staff because none of this is possible without them,” Pennington said.
