COACHING BACKGROUND
Joel Penner was named the head coach of the Defender football program for the 2016 season and guided the Defenders to a pair of five-win seasons in 2016 and 2017 before a then program best 7-3 record in 2018.
The 2024 team finished the year 8-2 and finished the season #20 in the NAIA Postseason Poll. The Defenders finished the year tied for second in the GPAC and averaged 39.5 points per game and gave up 12.2 points per game. Dordt's offense averaged 439 yards per game on offense and the defense gave up 257 yards per game. The team also had its best cumulative grade point average in the 2024-25 school year with a 3.53 GPA.
The 2023 year saw the Defenders qualify for the NAIA Postseason Championship Series and the Defenders won an Opening Round game at home before a Second Round loss ended their season with a 9-3 overall record and an 8-2 conference mark. The Defenders finished the year in a tie for second place in the GPAC and averaged 31.5 points per game with 395 yards of offense per game. The defense accounted for a 13.6 points per game allowed average and gave up just 87 yards per game on the ground. The team also excelled in the classroom with a 3.35 cumulative grade point average which was the best team GPA by a NAIA football team that school year.
The 2022 team finished the year with four straight wins after a 4-3 start and went 8-3 in conference play. The Defenders gained nearly 400 yards per game on offense and scored 28.7 points er game while limiting teams to 88.7 yards per game rushing and 315 total yards of offense per game.
The 2021 team posted a 7-3 mark with two of the losses coming by a single score. The Defenders posted their fourth straight third place finish in the GPAC and ran Penner’s record at Dordt to 39-24. The Defenders have also earned NAIA Scholar-Team status each year since 2018 with at least a 3.07 cumulative grade point average in each of those seasons.
The 2020 season was a breakthrough year for the Defenders and was Penner's most successful up to that point with a 7-2 GPAC mark and an 8-3 overall mark with the Defenders qualifying for the NAIA postseason for the first time in program history.
The Defenders ended the 2018 season ranked #23 in the NAIA Coaches' Poll. Dordt followed the record-setting 2018 season with a 7-4 mark in 2019 and was ranked #24 in two of the weekly polls.
In Penner's eight years at Dordt, the Defenders have had 19 first-team all-GPAC players and 106 players have been named NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes. He's coached 25 players who have been named CoSIDA Academic All-District First-Team honorees and 12 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. 12 Dordt players have earned NAIA All-American status under Penner.
Coach Penner has 24 years of college football coaching experience with stops at Malone (Ohio), Northwestern College (Iowa), Trinity International (Illinois), Greenville (Illinois), and Pacific Lutheran (Washington).
Under Penner’s guidance, the Malone offense doubled in production over Penner’s first two years on the staff in 2012 and 2013. 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. Penner was a part of a coaching staff that transitioned Malone from NAIA membership to NCAA Division II status.
While at Northwestern from 2009 to 2011, Penner coached an offense that 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 years at Northwestern, 21 offensive players earned all-conference honors and four players were named NAIA All-Americans.
COACHING PHILOSOPHY
I love being involved in this game and the opportunity to share my passions with our players is a gift. My mission is to honor God in the way I steward the program, to build men, and to lead our players in a fight to compete fiercely out of a secure identity in Christ.
ATHLETIC BACKGROUND
Competed in football and basketball at Centennial High School (Arizona) and Abbotsford Senior Secondary (British Columbia). Played tight end at Trinity International University.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
B.A. in sports and wellness management – Trinity International in 2001
M.A. in Christian studies – Trinity International in 2004
FAMILY
Wife: Emily
Daughter: Ella
Sons: Jacob and Caleb
