Ferrum College’s Cleive Adams making history at the athletic director’s role
FERRUM, Va. (WFXR) — Cleive Adams was named Director of Athletics at Ferrum in December 2023, after serving four seasons as head football coach from 2020-23. Prior to that, Adams spent six years as head coach at Averett University, Before his tenure at Averett, Adams served two stints as an assistant football coach at Ferrum, from 2003 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2013. During his second stint, Adams served as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator. He was an assistant football coach and special teams coordinator at fellow Old Dominion Athletic Conference member Washington and Lee University from 2005 to 2006.
A native of Radford, Virginia, Adams played football at Ferrum under legendary Coach Hank Norton in 1988 and 1989. Both seasons culminated with the Panthers making appearances in the NCAA Div. III national semifinals.
After stepping away from school to start a family, he returned to Ferrum in the late 1990s to resume work on his degree, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science from Ferrum in Recreation and Leisure with a minor in Psychology in 2002. In 2019, Adams was named to the Ferrum College Alumni Sports Hall of Fame. From a history standpoint, Adams is the first African American to accomplish the following :
Head Football Coach for Averett University and in the USA South Athletic Conference.
Head Football Coach for Ferrum College and in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Athletic Director for Ferrum College and in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
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