Springfield, Ohio – After nine years leading both the men’s and women’s cross country programs and the men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field programs at Wittenberg University, Craig Penney will focus his coaching talents on one sport. Penney will continue to lead the Tiger men’s and women’s cross country programs, while Paris Hilliard, who has served as an assistant in both programs since 2011, has been elevated to the head coach position for the Tiger men’s and women’s track & field programs.
Penney will continue to serve as an assistant in the track & field program, focusing on administrative tasks and continuing to mentor the middle distance and distance student-athletes, while Hilliard will continue to provide support to the cross country program. Assistant Coach Craig Binkley will continue to work with distance runners involved in both programs, and Assistant Coach Joel Drake will continue to coach the throwers involved in the track & field programs.
“Coach Penney has been a loyal and deeply committed coach on our staff for nine years and has done an amazing job as head coach for, in essence, six teams,” said Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Gary Williams. “This transition allows us to concentrate our energies on both programs in what we believe will be a more efficient and sustainable structure in the short and long term.
“Craig also has been a tremendous mentor for Paris. This may be one of Coach Penney's greatest gifts as a leader in the cross country and track community - his ability to develop not only great athletic talent but also great young coaches.”
Penney has spent nearly 40 years coaching college track & field and cross country student-athletes at seven different colleges and universities. In his first eight years at Wittenberg, he has mentored dozens of all-conference student-athletes, in addition to 14 national qualifiers and four All-America awards earned by two different student-athletes. His teams regularly garner academic accolades from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Penney, who has earned 12 conference coach of the year awards in his career, earned his bachelor’s degree from Edinboro State University in 1976. He went on to earn his master’s degree in sports administration from Ashland University.
“I am looking forward to my new role as director of operations for track and field and a focus on coaching our cross country student-athletes, many of whom also compete for track and field in middle distance and distance events,” Penney said. “Paris has distinguished himself as an up-and-coming track and field coach, and he has earned this opportunity to elevate the program. This arrangement can only enhance our program and the development of our student-athletes.”
Hilliard has developed Wittenberg’s sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers into national title contenders over the last four years, as he has guided six different student-athletes to NCAA Division III Championship qualification. The Tigers have set more than two-dozen school records in sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays since Hilliard joined the staff.
“I am extremely excited to be named head coach of the Wittenberg track and field program,” Hilliard said. “Coach Penney and Dr. Williams have done a great job of preparing me for this opportunity during my time as an assistant coach. I look forward to continuing to work alongside Coach Penney, and I also look forward to furthering our student-athletes’ success on and off the track.”
A native of Lorain, Ohio, Hilliard arrived at Wittenberg after one year as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Heidelberg University. That followed a stellar collegiate career for the Student Princes in which he earned 10 All-Ohio Conference honors and posted four NCAA Division III provisional qualifying times in relays. Hilliard competed in the NCAA Division III Championship meets in 2007 and 2010, and he also was a member of two school-record relay teams.
“We are thrilled that Paris accepted Coach Penney and our offer to lead our track and field programs,” Williams said. “Paris is an exceptional young coach and recruiter, and he is deeply committed to our university and athletic department's mission and values. He has brought a passion and energy for our student-athlete's success, not just within the track community but across our athletic department and the university as a whole.
“Our athletes and programs are in great hands with these two dedicated leaders and we are excited to see what the future brings for both programs through this reorganization.”
Written By: Ryan Maurer