Adam Pennington has developed Northwestern State into one of the premier sprints programs in the Southland Conference and one of the best non-Power Five groups in the nation.
Pennington, a former Demon runner, was promoted to associate head coach for the NSU men’s and women’s programs in the summer of 2016 because of his contributions to one of the best seasons in school history, and in laying the foundation for even greater success by recruiting top-caliber student-athletes.
The numbers are clear-cut.
Pennington's sprinters were a huge reason why the Lady Demons have won five team titles in the last three years, including indoor/outdoor sweeps in each of the past two seasons.
A third straight indoor title for the NSU women helped earn him another Indoor USTFCCCA South Central Assistant Coach of the Year award, his second consecutive season winning the award.
Pennington was instrumental in the development of Maygan Shaw, who finished her Lady Demons career as arguably the top female sprinter in school history.
Shaw completed her NSU career with a Second Team All-American honor in the 400-meter dash.
Pennington had a huge role in the development of Zach Beard, who earned a trip to the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, in 2024.
Beard earned a First Team All-American spot that same year in the 100-meter dash and the women's 4x400 relay team of Shaw, Sanaria Butler, Vanessa Balde and Tranasia Jones ran to a Second Team All-American spot.
In 2023, he coached Butler to become the first freshman at NSU to reach outdoor nationals since 2011.
Butler broke multiple records as a freshman, helping her earn 2023 SLC Women's Athlete of the Year and All-Louisiana co-Freshman of the Year.
Led by a group of freshman that included Butler and Balde, the women won its first ever indoor team title in 2023.
The men finished second in both indoor and outdoor and the women came in second in the outdoor in addition to winning the indoor.
Butler earned the SLC Women's Most Outstanding Performer at the outdoor conference championships in 2023.
On the men's side, he coached Beard to a Second Team All-American nod in the 60-meters.
NSU rebounded from the pandemic that wiped out 2020 with a strong 2021 showing.
Natashia Jackson wrapped one of the most decorated careers in SLC history with three outdoor golds, finished second with a career 19 total SLC golds. The Track Athlete of the Year, who is the only league runner to win one outdoor event in all four championships (400 meters) also blasted her own then-400 program record by running a 52.55 at the NCAA East Preliminaries.
Lynell Washington picked up the mantel in 2022, winning the SLC Outstanding Female Running Events Performer after taking gold in the 100 and 200 meters after breaking her own school record in the 60 meters during SLC Indoor (7.32).
Shaw became NSU's first freshman sprinter to win gold in her first conference indoor meet, capturing the 400 title.
The 2019 Outdoor Championship may have been the most impressive in Demon sprint history. After the NSU Demon men went 7 of 8 weeks ranked No. 1 in the country in the 100 meters rankings and No. 9 in the 200 meters, they kept their momentum into the conference championships. The Demon sprints scored 45 of the 78 total team points, placing four in the 100m finals, three in the 200 finals, and for the third straight year capturing the 4x100m title.
As a junior, Larkins not only captured the 100 meters title but in the process tied Justin Walker’s then-NSU record of 10.12, breaking the SLC Championship record at the time. James also cracked the No. 1 spot on the record board with a time of 20.41. For the second straight year the Lady Demons did not lose a race at the outdoor conference championships. The Lady Demon sprints scored 88 of the 111 total team points.
Jones captured her 19th Southland Conference medal, as well as her third Outdoor Female Track Athlete of the Year, second SLC Women’s Athlete of the Year and second SLC Runner of the Year. The Lady Demons also broke the then-SLC 4x400 all-time record with a time of 3:36.31, which was broken at many times in 2024 and currently sits at 3:29.22, which was set at regionals.
Between both sprint corps in 2019, they represented a total of 12 athletes at the first round of the NCAA Championships. A total of eight sprinters advanced to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., being the only non-Power 5 program to advance both 4x100m relays, and the first time in school history a Lady Demon relay has made it to the NCAA Championships. The men’s 4x100 broke a 33-year-old school record with a new time of 38.92 to place seventh overall and become First Team All-Americans.
The 2018 Southland Indoors was one of the most remarkable in program history. The NSU women posted 69 of their 95 second-place points in the sprints, while the Demons put up 34 of 80 and had four scorers in the 60 meters despite injuries to Larkins and James and three scorers in the 200 meters. Sophomore Natashia Jackson was named the Southland Conference Indoor high point scorer after winning the 400, 4x400, runner up in the 200, and placing 5th in the 60m dash. Daeshon Gordon not only captured the SLC 60 hurdles title but holds the Southland Conference Record of 8.15 in the event.
Jackson, who was a three-time high point scorer at SLC Indoor Championships, evolved into one of the most dominant sprinters in SLC history, racking up 19 gold medals in the indoor and outdoor championships.
The 2017 Outdoor Championship brought more NSU sprint dominance. The Lady Demons swept the sprints scoring 84 of their 133 team points, while Jones was NSU’s second straight Outdoor Female Track Athlete of the Year and Tamara Style was Newcomer of the Year. The Demon men scored 43 of their 89 points in the sprints, winning the 4x100 relay and going 2-3 in both the 100 and 200. The Demon sprint core was represented by 9 NCAA regional qualifiers.
His sprinters were also a key in a second-place finish for the women and a third-place effort for the men at the 2016 Southland Conference Outdoor Championships. Those places came on the strength of a combined 228 points scored, best in school history.
The Lady Demons' second place finish was tied for the best in program history until the sprinters led the team to its first ever indoor team title in 2023 and following with indoor/outdoor sweeps in 2024 and 2025.
Micah Larkins (100 meters) and Amir James (200 meters) won on the men's side while the NSU women made a clean sweep of the 100 (Jermeka McBride), 200 (McBride) and 400 (De'Shalyn Jones) at the conference championships in 2016. Another runner, George Flaviano, captured the 400 meter hurdles gold.
With their remarkable performances, Southland Conference Outdoor individual honors went to McBride (Female Track Athlete of the Year) and Flaviano (Newcomer of the Year). McBride also participated in the Bahamian Olympic Trials and broke the school record in the 200 meters.
James won Southland Indoor Male Track Athlete of the Year accolades as he swept the 60 and 200 crowns at the conference indoor championships in February 2016.
The 2016 4x100 men's relay of James, Larkins, Flaviano and Ty Shilling earned NCAA All-America second-team recognition with a 15th-place finish at the national meet after winning a conference title.
While having talented athletes is vital to that level of success, the difference-making factor is often coaching. Pennington’s influence is obvious on Mike Heimerman’s coaching staff.
"He stepped up in everything I've ever asked him to do," Heimerman said. "Whether it's recruiting or admissions work, he's gone above and beyond.
"He relates to the kids really well, and the kids respond to him. He's a problem solver -- I don't have to micromanage him. He's a thinker and can handle a lot of things without even asking me."
His return to NSU, this time as a coach, followed coaching stints at McNeese and his alma mater, Marksville High School.
Pennington quickly developed into a well-regarded coach and recruiter on the college level.
He’s a USATF Level 1 certified and USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning certified coach and oversees the men’s and women’s sprints, relays, hurdles, and pole vault for the NSU program.
“Adam is a very hard worker, loves to recruit and thrives on the long hours. He is very knowledgeable,” Heimerman said. “He is constantly trying to educate himself in our sport and be at the forefront of teaching and coaching technique. He brings all the characteristics I was looking for when searching for a coach.”
He coached five NCAA East Regional qualifiers in two seasons at McNeese, including the top-ranked Southland Conference 2014 women’s pole vaulter Nicole Casper and a school record of 13’8.75”.
In 2015, Pennington took over coaching all of McNeese’s jumps events and the vault, and developed eight Southland medalists, including Southland Indoor women’s long jump champion Simone Johnson.
Pennington competed for NSU in 2008 and later graduated from LSU-Alexandria with a kinesiology degree. Pennington has two kids, Riley and Beckham Pennington.
11 Southland Conference Outstanding Track Performers of the Year
7 SLC Athletes of the Year
10 SLC Championship High Point Scorers
7 SLC Newcomer of the Year
226 All-SLC performers
91 NCAA Preliminary Qualifiers
20 NCAA Qualifiers
13 NCAA All Americans
12 USA Senior Championship Qualifiers
23 Current School Records
