Shorter taps Hendricks to lead athletic program
♦ The strength and conditioning specialist has been a part of the school’s program.
Shorter University announced the promotion of Richard Hendricks to serve as the University’s Director of Athletics on Wednesday. He will begin his duties on July 1.
An experienced business owner, strength and conditioning specialist, and football coach, Hendricks has more than 15 years of experience in the public and private sector. He has served as Shorter’s head strength and conditioning coach since August.
“We are excited about the leadership that Richard Hendricks will bring to Shorter’s athletic program,” said Shorter University President Dr. Don Dowless. “His unique blend of experiences in business and coaching will serve him well as he leads our program of intercollegiate athletics. In his time at Shorter, he has demonstrated his commitment to making an impact on the lives of student-athletes, and he personifies our mission of Transforming Lives through Christ.”
“I love to help athletes,” Hendricks said. “I love the science side of training, but more than that, I love helping them in life. Being able to help athletes who are weighed down in life is the most amazing feeling. God has guided my path to bring me to Shorter and this opportunity at this moment.”
Hendricks graduated from Troy University with a Bachelor of Science in sport and fitness management with a minor in athletics and health promotion. He earned a Master of Arts in strength and conditioning from Lagrange College.
He holds certifications as both a strength and conditioning specialist and a personal trainer from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
He came to Shorter from his position as sports performance director and weight training coach at Mount Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek, where he worked for three years. At Mount Pisgah, he also served as defensive and offensive line coach and junior varsity defensive coordinator for the school’s football team.
From 2008 to 2016, Hendricks was the founder and sole owner of The Edge Total Sports/total Fitness in Rome. There, he wrote training programs for over 500 athletes as well as multiple college and university programs.
He has also worked as strength and conditioning coach for the shorter baseball, men’s golf and women’s golf teams from 2014 to 2016. In addition, he has been a defensive line and linebacker coach at Unity Christian School and a contracted strength and conditioning coach at Piedmont High School in Piedmont, Alabama.
Hendricks and his wife, Alexandria, live in Rome. They have four children — Camdyn, Brinley, Cooper and Carter.