Ola Adams is now in his seventh year at Villanova and his third as the team’s Defensive Coordinator and secondary coach entering the 2021 season. Adams is the program’s pro liaison and recruits within the region, including several local high schools in the Philadelphia area along with Maryland, Washington, D.C. and the state of Virginia.
Several players on the Wildcats defensive unit have excelled over the past two seasons since Adams became the Defensive Coordinator. Of note among them are defensive lineman Malik Fisher, linebacker Forrest Rhyne and cornerback Christian Benford who have each been first team All-CAA selections. Fisher and Rhyne were named preseason All-Americans entering the 2021 campaign, while Rhyne was named to the Watch List for the Buck Buchanan Award. There have been a total of seven All-CAA honors for the Villanova defense in the last two seasons.
Villanova excelled in preventing long drives by the opposition during the abbreviated spring campaign which served as the 2020 competition season. In the four games played the Wildcats held their opponents to converting just 24.4 percent (10-of-41) of the time on third down. That figure led the CAA and ranked second in the entire country. Villanova ranked 15th nationally in fourth down conversion defense and limited its opponents to converting just 33.3 percent of the time. In Adams’ first year as Defensive Coordinator in 2019, the Wildcats ranked fifth in the country in defensive touchdowns (four), 20th in passes intercepted (14), 22nd in rushing defense (125.2 yards per game) and 30th in fourth down conversion defense.
Adams has been active in the coaching profession outside of Villanova and in 2019 he participated in the AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. He returned in 2020 when he was a coordinator panelist at the leadership summit.
When he first came to Villanova in 2015, Adams spent two seasons working with the running backs before moving to Special Teams Coordinator and cornerbacks coach for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Under his tutelage Christian Benford was named the CAA Football Defensive Rookie of the Year and a third team All-CAA selection in 2018. Adams guided cornerback Malik Reaves to second team All-CAA honors for the 2018 campaign and was instrumental in punter John Hinchen being named a first team all-conference selection. He also helped Reaves and fellow corner Trey Johnson sign free agent contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 2017 Villanova special teams improved in six different categories in the national statistics under Adams’ tutelage. In addition to going from 112th to 50th nationally in punt return average, the Wildcats improved from 44th to 19th in punt average and 104th to 33rd in kickoff return average. Villanova also finished 15th nationally in field goal kicking after ranking 38th the year prior.
Adams coached All-CAA running backs in each of his first two seasons on the Main Line. Sophomore Aaron Forbes was a third team selection in 2016 after leading the team with 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Forbes had a pair of 100-yard games, including a career-high 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a win over Albany. He also had one receiving touchdown on the year and led Villanova with 54 points. Senior running back Gary Underwood was a first team All-CAA selection and an All-ECAC honoree in 2015 during Adams’ first year with the Wildcats.
As a position coach Adams has produced at least one all-conference performer in all but one year going back to the 2009 season. He has spent five total seasons as a Defensive Coordinator at Cortland State and Villanova, and in those five seasons has helped his teams tally a 35-15 (.700) record with two NCAA playoff appearances.
Adams came to Villanova from Columbia where he was the wide receivers coach in 2014. He was previously the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Cortland State for three seasons and helped lead the Red Dragons to a 24-9 overall record and a 2012 NCAA playoff bid. In three seasons his defense ranked in the top 33 nationally in 17 separate categories. Cortland finished second in the country in sacks (41), fifth in turnovers gained (33) and 11th in total tackles for loss (93) during the 2013 season after ranking 11th nationally in turnovers gained (33) in 2012. In his first year at Cortland in 2011 the defense finished third in the NCAA in sacks (39), 11th in total tackles for loss (87) and 14th in rushing defense (90.1 yards per game).
The stint at Cortland from 2011-13 was the second at the school for Adams, who was the Red Dragons defensive backs coach in 2009. He spent one year as the secondary coach at Glenville State College in 2010. His first coaching job came as the assistant defensive backs coach at his alma mater, Concord College, in 2008.
Adams participated in the NFL minority internship program, serving as the minority intern for defense (secondary) for the San Francisco 49ers in 2014 and for the Chicago Bears defensive line in 2013. He also participated in the NFL Coaching Academy in 2013.
As a player, Adams was a four-year starter at Concord University where he was the No. 7 rated Division II free safety in 2008. A three-time All-WVIAC honoree, including two years earning first team honors, Adams served as a team captain during his senior campaign. He also earned All-Northeast Region honors on two occasions. His career stats include 283 tackles, 29 pass break-ups, 14 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, five fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles. Adams, who earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Tourism Management in 2008, also ran track at Concord and was the 2006 WVIAC triple jump runner-up.
Adams is single and resides in Philadelphia, Pa.
