CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Nate Adams was hired as Southeast Missouri's Director of Sports Performance Tuesday.
 
Adams comes to SEMO after working two years as an athletic performance coach with the Indiana football program which won its first-ever national title on Jan. 19, 2026, completing a historic 16-0 season. 
 
Prior to Indiana, Adams spent three seasons with the football program at James Madison (2021-23). The Dukes transitioned from the Football Championship Subdivision level to FBS play after his first season and earned the program's first FBS bowl berth in 2023.
 
JMU was 31-7 overall during that span with a pair of Sun Belt East Division titles and an appearance in the FCS Playoff semifinal in 2021. He worked with 17 First-Team All-Conference selections and seven All-America picks during his time in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
 
Along with the design and implementation of strength and conditioning programs for the student-athletes, Adams also implemented the internship program within JMU's department.
 
Before JMU, Adams worked at The Citadel (2020) following a seasonal position with the New York Football Giants (2020) for the organization's training camp.
 
Adams spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Wagner College (2018-20) leading the strength & conditioning efforts for seven programs. He spearheaded the organization and operation for the women's basketball, track & field (throwers), men's and women's tennis and men's and women's golf teams, while assisting with football.
 
After his time as a student-athlete at Eastern Michigan (2013-15) and Gannon University (2016), Adams was an assistant football coach for one season at Gannon in 2017. He then completed a spring internship with the University of Colorado football program in 2018. Adams worked with Rugby United New York in the spring of 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Adams earned his bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science from Gannon University in 2017. He completed a master's degree in business administration from Wagner College in 2021.
 
Adams' professional certificates include National Strength and Conditioning Association – Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association – Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified, Precision Nutrition Level One, Functional Range Systems – Mobility Specialist, Functional Range Release SPINE (non-therapist), CPR/AED.