Adams Joins Liberty Track & Field Staff as Throws Coach

Liberty Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lance Bingham announced that Matt Adams has joined his staff as an assistant track & field coach. Adams, who comes to Liberty from Marshall, will primarily work with the Flames’ throwers.

Adams owns 14 years of collegiate coaching experience, including stops at Marshall, Central Michigan and Olivet Nazarene.

“I am very thankful that Coach Adams has accepted our throws coaching position,” stated Bingham. “We are excited to find someone who will continue the trajectory of our throws program to the national level. Matt has a great heart and is intentional in building character as he trains the athletes in his care. After visiting with Matt and his wife, Emily, I know that they will have a great impact on our team for God’s Glory.”

Adams spent the last three years at Marshall (2018-21), serving as an assistant coach for throwing events. His athletes broke program records in the women’s weight throw and hammer. Meanwhile, Reneese Batson was the 2019 Conference USA women’s hammer champion.

During three seasons coaching Central Michigan’s throwers (2015-18), Adams coached nine NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round qualifiers. His athletes broke two school records and eight freshman records.

Prior to his time at Central Michigan, he spent four years as assistant coach at Olivet Nazarene (2011-15), coaching three throwers to NAIA National Championships. Adams’ throwers set 28 school and 17 conference records, and 19 athletes earned All-America honors.

Adams was a student-athlete at Oregon, where he qualified for the NCAA West Regional Championships in 2005 in the javelin. Prior to his time at Oregon, he was a four-time National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) All-American in the javelin and the discus at Glendale Community College.

In addition to an associate’s degree from Glendale Community College and a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Oregon, Adams holds a master’s of education degree from William Woods University, which he earned in 2012. Adams also holds multiple coaching certifications through USA Track & Field (USATF) and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Adams replaces Clendon Henderson, who recently stepped away from the coaching profession after guiding the Liberty throwers for the last 13 years (2008-21). An All-American discus thrower as a Liberty student-athlete, Henderson coached four All-Americans for the Flames. School records were broken in nine of the 12 throwing events during Henderson’s time on staff.

“I am thankful to Clendon Henderson for his faithfulness and diligence as he has developed our throws program,” Bingham stated. “I am excited for him as he enters the private sector, and I know that he will continue to impact his family and many others for the Kingdom.”