WVSU Football Adds Pennington, Promotes Powell

INSTITUTE, West Virginia  — West Virginia State University Head Football Coach Jon Anderson announces John Pennington will join the Yellow Jacket coaching staff to fill the position of Offensive Coordinator.

"I am extremely pleased to announce the return of John Pennington to the West Virginia State University football program," Anderson said. "John brings a great amount of experience with him and is a very well­ rounded coach having worked with multiple position groups."

Anderson also announced that Offensive Line Coach Jamal Powell has been promoted to Run Game Coordinator. Powell joined the staff prior to the 2014 season.

"Coach Powell has really proven to be an invaluable staff member," he noted. "He has deep relationships with our players and I am excited for him and Coach Pennington to work together in reshaping our offense."

Pennington previously served as Special Teams Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for the Yellow Jackets in 2010.

Prior to that he coached the defensive backs, the offensive linemen and ran the strength and conditioning program at WVU­Tech during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia Wesleyan from 2005 to 2007.

Pennington has also served as the Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach of the semipro West Virginia Lightning team based in Charleston. During his time with the Lightning, the team won two United State Football Association championships.

Since February 2011 he has been on the staff at Concord University holding a variety of positions including Special Teams Coordinator, Head Strength Coach, Wide Receivers Coach, and Director of Football Operations. His duties also included recruiting in the Kanawha Valley as well as the Richmond, Va. and Washington D.C. areas.

"He is a very hard­worker, develops lasting relationships with his players, and has a great offensive background" Anderson said. "John and our current offensive staff have already been hard at work developing our offense and are looking to increase offensive productivity in 2015."

Under his tutelage four Concord wide receivers received All­Conference honors and, this past fall, the squad's kicker was a first team All­-Mountain East Conference selection.

Pennington is a Charleston native and former player for George Washington High School and West Virginia University. He resides in Charleston with his wife, Andrea, and their children.

COURTESY WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION