June 25, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University head football coach David Elson announced the hiring of David Abernethy as the program's strength and conditioning coach Wednesday.
Abernethy comes to the Hill from Mississippi, where he was an assistant for the last two years working with both football and softball. His responsibilities included the implementation of both in- and off-season conditioning programs, overseeing the management, regulation, scheduling and maintenance of the weight room, educating student-athletes on nutritional benefits and communicating with the training staff to insure proper rehabilitation of student-athletes. He worked with a Rebel squad that won seven games, including the Independence Bowl, last season.
"We are very, very excited to add David Abernethy to the Western Kentucky University football family," said Elson. "He's worked under one of the better strength coaches in the country in Ruben Mendoza. The experience and enthusiasm David brings to the job is just what we're looking for to continue our success."
Abernethy was a graduate assistant at Clemson from 1999-01, where he worked with football, baseball, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's swimming and diving. His efforts helped the Tigers participate in both the Peach and Gator Bowls during his tenure, while the baseball team reached the 2000 College World Series and the women's soccer squad advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in both 1999 and '00.
A 1999 graduate of Western Carolina with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Abernethy lettered twice in football. The Catamounts went 6-5 his senior season with a 5-3 mark in the Southern Conference. He was a member of the Dean's List at WCU, also earning Athletic Director's and Southern Conference Academic Awards. Abernethy also played at Methodist College, where he earned the team's Offensive Lineman Award and Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
He is a member of both the National and Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Associations.
- WKU -
