Head Coach: Craig Penney
Office: (937) 327-6493
E-Mail

Postal Address: Wittenberg University P.O. Box 720 Springfield, Ohio 45501

Package Shipping Address: Wittenberg University 225 Fountain Ave. Springfield, Ohio 45504

Craig Penney was named Wittenberg men's and women's cross country and track & field head coach in August 2006. Penney took over the two programs after the departure of Steve Shutt, who left after seven years to take over the same positions at Gettysburg College.

The 2006 season marked Penney's debut as a Tiger coach, but he previously led cross country and track teams at six colleges in a 29-year span. One of his stops included Wittenberg rival and fellow North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) member College of Wooster. His last stop before Wittenberg was Shenandoah University, where he was the head cross country coach and an administrative assistant for media relations. During his two years at Shenandoah, Penney guided five runners to all-conference honors and led three of those individuals to strong finishes in the NCAA Division III South Region Meet.

During Penney's 16 years as a cross country and track & field coach he has been named conference coach of the year 12 times. In 2000, he was named the United States of America Track and Field Mid-East Regional Track and Field Coach of the Year. Beyond Penney's individual accolades, his teams have won 15 conference titles. He has also produced 250 all-conference performers, 20 most valuable player awards, 52 National Qualifiers, and 32 All-Americans. He has also helped athletes set more than 70 new college records.

Not only has Penney led his individuals to high levels of competition, his teams have also held their own in the classroom. In 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003, his cross country teams earned Coaches Association Academic All-America recognition. Last year at Shenandoah, Penney's women's cross country team was one of 108 Division III schools to earn the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Academic Award with a 3.39 grade point average.

Penney has also been involved in other activities beyond coaching. From April 2003 through July 2004, Penney was the assistant conference planner and programmer for Penn State University Conferences & Institutes. He also has gained experience as a director of seven conference championship events and three NCAA Regional Cross Country Championships. During his time at Shenandoah as an administrative assistant, Penney helped to process media guide advertising and handled media relations responsibilities for postgame interviews.

Penney, who was a double major at Edinboro State University, earned his master's degree in sports administration from Ashland University.

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Assistant Coach: Ralph Bergdoll
Office: (937) 327-6493
E-Mail

Ralph Bergdoll became part of the Wittenberg men's and women's cross country and track and field coaching staff in 2000 after more than 40 years of coaching in the Dayton area. A graduate of West Virginia Weslyan and Xavier University, Bergdoll is also certified in Level I and II with the USTAF and is Level I instructor.

As a scholastic coach Bergdoll has experience with both cross-country and track programs. For 10 consecutive years (1990-1999), he had competitors qualify for the OHSAA State track meet. In 1988 Bergdoll was inducted in the Ohio Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame. He has served many years as a meet manager and has conducted four Level I schools for USATF


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