Joel Penner is back for his fourth season as Malone’s offensive coordinator in 2015. Penner, who also serves as Malone’s Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting coordinator, has 15 years of college football coaching experience to his credit and most recently served as the offensive coordinator at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa before joining the Pioneer coaching staff in 2012.
The Malone offense doubled in production over Penner’s first two years on the staff. In 2013, the Pioneers averaged nearly 30 points and 400 yards of offense per game while also leading the GLIAC in red zone touchdown percentage. Malone’s offense growth was hampered in 2014 after a rash of injuries sidelined numerous starters. However, with a large group of healthy returners this fall, Penner and the offense will look to match or exceed their impressive 2013 production.
While at Northwestern, Penner guided one of the most prolific offenses in the NAIA – a unit which averaged over 36 points and 420 yards per game during the 2011 season. In addition to crafting a strong Red Raider passing attack, he also developed a spread option ground game that was ranked third in the nation in 2010 with an average of 283 yards per contest. During Penner’s three seasons at Northwestern, 21 offensive players earned all-conference honors and four players were named All-American.
After earning both a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Wellness Management and a master’s degree in Christian Studies from Trinity International (IL) University, Penner began his coaching career at Pacific Lutheran (WA) University, where he served as the assistant recruiting coordinator under long-time coach and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Frosty Westering.
He then returned to Trinity International, where he worked as an assistant coach for four years in a variety of roles, including defensive backs coach, running backs and receivers coach, and passing coordinator. While at TIU, Penner helped lead the Trojans to a playoff berth in 2004 and guided an offense that ranked 10th nationally in total yards.
In 2005, Penner then became the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on current Pioneer head coach Eric Hehman’s staff at NCAA D-III Greenville (IL) College. During his time at Greenville, Penner implemented a balanced spread option attack that nearly tripled the program’s scoring, going from 11 points per game in 2004 to 29 points per contest in 2007. The Panthers ranked first within their conference in total offense and produced 22 all-conference players in his four seasons at Greenville, including the conference Player of the Year in 2007.
Penner and his wife, Emily, have one daughter- Ella, and two sons- Jacob and Caleb.
