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| Averett athletics photo |
Averett has named Cleive Adams as its new football head coach. Adams, a longtime Division III assistant, comes to Averett from Ferrum, a fellow USA South Conference institution where he has been the defensive coordinator since 2007.
He replaces Mike Dunlevy, who resigned in November after compiling a 49-69 career record in 12 seasons. Averett has gone 1-9 the past two years.
Adams is the third head coach of Averett's football program,
which began play in 2000. He takes over a program that has produced
one conference championship, several All-Americans and other
numerous individual accolades. Adams also enters the program during
an exciting time as Averett recently unveiled its plans for a new
$6.5 million sports complex that will be the home to the football
and soccer programs.
"It's an absolute honor to be named the next head football coach at
Averett University and be a part of its vision," Adams said. "Not
only am I excited about being the next head coach, I'm even more
thrilled about the opportunity to become a new member of the
university community as well as the city of Danville. The
leadership and vision of Averett made my decision to accept the job
very easy. It is a very exciting time at Averett University. The
time I spent on campus during the interview process spoke volumes
about the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the administration,
faculty, staff and students."
"We are excited to have coach Cleive Adams join our staff to lead
our football program," Averett president Tiffany Franks said. "I'm
impressed with his vision for our program and I look forward to a
bright future for Averett football."
Athletic director Meg Stevens said Adams, who was selected from a
field of more than 200 candidates, is the perfect fit for the
Averett program based on his background at multiple Division III
programs in Virginia.
"Coach Adams' values are parallel with Averett's vision and where
the university and the department of athletics want to go," Stevens
said. "He believes in our 'One Team' philosophy. I believe his
leadership and ability to develop young men on and off the field
will be an asset to our football program and university."
A native of Radford, Va., Adams began his coaching career in 1998
as a student-assistant at Ferrum, his alma mater. In 2002, he
joined the coaching staff fulltime as an assistant, serving as the
defensive line coach and the run game coordinator. He was named the
Panthers' defensive coordinator in 2004. He left Ferrum in 2005 to
become an assistant at Washington andLee of the Old Dominion
Athletic Conference, where he served as the special teams
coordinator and coached the defensive line. Adams returned to
Ferrum in 2007 as the defensive coordinator and secondary
coach.
Adams is excited to take over the Averett football program, which
he has been familiar with from the opposite sideline since he began
his coaching career.
"From a football perspective, I'm thrilled to have an opportunity
to work with the current staff members," Adams said. "More
importantly my passion is to meet and engage myself with the young
men currently on campus. I've heard nothing but great things about
these young men and can't wait to be introduced to the entire team
as their new head coach. This appointment is not about me, it is
about the student-athletes — past, current and future —
that are Averett University football. It is my priority to make
their experience at Averett a positive one and something that they
will remember for years to come."