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Coaching Staff

Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Craig Penney
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 brought a wealth of experience to the Wittenberg men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs when he arrived in August 2006.

Penney has led cross country and track teams at six colleges in the past 32 years. One of his stops included Wittenberg rival and fellow North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) member College of Wooster. Prior to coming to Wittenberg, Penney was the head cross country coach and an administrative assistant for media relations at Shenandoah University. 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.

Penney has earned conference coach of the year awards 12 times in his career. 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 more than 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, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008, his cross country teams earned Coaches Association Academic All-America recognition. In 2005 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.


Assistant Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Ralph Bergdoll
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.


Assistant Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Ralph Bergdoll
Assistant Coach: Ben Bradley
E-Mail

Ben Bradley joined the cross country coaching staff as a volunteer in 2008, and in 2009 becomes an assistant coach. In addition to those duties, Bradley serves as a broadcaster on the Tiger Sports Network, and in conjunction with the "Voice of the Tigers," Scott Leo, covers a wide range of Tiger athletic events on the student radio station 89.1 FM WUSO and on the Internet through the Wittenberg athletics website.

A 2007 graduate of Denison University, Bradley served as assistant sports information director in 2008-09 before moving to his current duties for the 2009-10 academic year. He currently resides in Springfield.

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