Staff Directory
Adams, Ola
Ola Adams
- Title:
- Safeties/Defensive Backs
- Email:
Oladimeji “Ola” Adams enters his second season as safeties coach at Indiana. Adams joined head coach Curt Cignetti’s staff in 2024 after the two faced off on opposite sidelines during their time in the FCS ranks.
Adams owns 16 seasons of experience across college and professional football, with 12 seasons coaching defensive backs after an all-conference career at Concord (W.Va.) University. He has tutored at least one all-conference honoree in 14 of 16 seasons dating back to 2009.
His first season in Bloomington saw Amare Ferrell lead the team and tie for No. 2 in the Big Ten in interceptions (4). Three of the team’s top five tacklers on the College Football Playoff squad came from the defensive back group, which helped Indiana finish top 10 nationally in scoring defense (No. 6; 15.6), passing yards allowed (No. 10; 176.1) and rushing yards allowed (No. 1; 80.2).
He spent the 2023 season at Penn State as a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator for the nation’s No. 1 defense. The Nittany Lions defense sat atop the FBS in total defense (223.4 ypg) and allowed the fewest yards per game in the FBS since 2011. Penn State also finished No. 1 in sacks (4.00 spg) and first down defense (151) on its way to a Peach Bowl invitation.
Adams was an assistant secondary coach with the Denver Broncos (2022) for one season. The defensive backs finished No. 5 in the NFL with fewest receiving touchdowns allowed (20) and No. 10 in the NFL in interceptions (15).
He spent seven seasons at Villanova (2015-21) with the last three as the program’s defensive coordinator. Adams coached the defensive backs for five seasons (2017-21) and began as the running backs coach (2015-16). The Wildcats reached the FCS Playoffs and finished among the FCS Coaches Poll Top 25 on five occasions. Three of the final year-end national rankings were among the top 10.
Thirteen defenders earned All-Colonial Athletic Association in his three seasons as defensive coordinator with seven earning first-team All-CAA honors. Christian Benford and Forrest Rhyne each earned first-team All-America honors in 2021, and Benford was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
His defensive units forced 50 takeaways during his three seasons as defensive coordinator. Six defensive backs signed NFL contracts over Adams’ five seasons in charge of the corps and the group pulled in 50 interceptions over that span.
Rhyne was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and Benford earned CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018.
In all, Adams directly coached eight all-conference honorees in his seven years on the Main Line as two running backs, five defensive backs, and one punter were honored. Four of those were first-team selections.
Adams coached wide receivers for one season at Columbia (2014) after serving as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at SUNY-Courtland (2011-13) for three seasons. His second stint with the Red Dragons netted a 24-9 overall record and three postseason berths. Courtland advanced to the second round of the 2012 NCAA Division III Playoffs and earned East Coast Athletic Conference bowl bids in 2011 and 2013.
He coached defensive backs for one season at Glenville State College (2010) after his first stint at SUNY-Courtland (2009) as the defensive backs coach.
Adams was selected to participate in the 2019 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute and returned in 2020 as a coordinator panelist at the organization’s leadership summit.
He participated in the NFL minority internship program in 2013 and 2014 and the NFL Coaching Academy in 2013. He served as the minority intern for defense with the San Francisco 49ers (2014) and Chicago Bears (2013).
Adams was a four-year starter at Concord (W.Va.) University and a three-time All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree with two first-team nods. The two-time All-Northeast Region honoree totaled 283 tackles, seven interceptions, five fumbles recovered, and five forced fumbles. He also competed in track & field and was the 2006 WVIAC triple jump runner-up.
Adams earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation and tourism Management from Concord in 2008.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
SUNY-Courtland
2009: Defensive Backs
Glenville State College
2010: Defensive Backs
SUNY-Courtland
2011-13: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Columbia University
2014: Wide Receivers
Villanova University
2015-16: Running Backs
2017-18: Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks
2019-21: Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Denver Broncos
2022: Assistant Defensive Backs
Penn State University
2023: Defensive Analyst/Analytics Coordinator
Indiana University
2024-: Safeties/Defensive Backs
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Concord (W.Va.) University
2004-07: Defensive Back
Adams owns 16 seasons of experience across college and professional football, with 12 seasons coaching defensive backs after an all-conference career at Concord (W.Va.) University. He has tutored at least one all-conference honoree in 14 of 16 seasons dating back to 2009.
His first season in Bloomington saw Amare Ferrell lead the team and tie for No. 2 in the Big Ten in interceptions (4). Three of the team’s top five tacklers on the College Football Playoff squad came from the defensive back group, which helped Indiana finish top 10 nationally in scoring defense (No. 6; 15.6), passing yards allowed (No. 10; 176.1) and rushing yards allowed (No. 1; 80.2).
He spent the 2023 season at Penn State as a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator for the nation’s No. 1 defense. The Nittany Lions defense sat atop the FBS in total defense (223.4 ypg) and allowed the fewest yards per game in the FBS since 2011. Penn State also finished No. 1 in sacks (4.00 spg) and first down defense (151) on its way to a Peach Bowl invitation.
Adams was an assistant secondary coach with the Denver Broncos (2022) for one season. The defensive backs finished No. 5 in the NFL with fewest receiving touchdowns allowed (20) and No. 10 in the NFL in interceptions (15).
He spent seven seasons at Villanova (2015-21) with the last three as the program’s defensive coordinator. Adams coached the defensive backs for five seasons (2017-21) and began as the running backs coach (2015-16). The Wildcats reached the FCS Playoffs and finished among the FCS Coaches Poll Top 25 on five occasions. Three of the final year-end national rankings were among the top 10.
Thirteen defenders earned All-Colonial Athletic Association in his three seasons as defensive coordinator with seven earning first-team All-CAA honors. Christian Benford and Forrest Rhyne each earned first-team All-America honors in 2021, and Benford was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
His defensive units forced 50 takeaways during his three seasons as defensive coordinator. Six defensive backs signed NFL contracts over Adams’ five seasons in charge of the corps and the group pulled in 50 interceptions over that span.
Rhyne was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and Benford earned CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018.
In all, Adams directly coached eight all-conference honorees in his seven years on the Main Line as two running backs, five defensive backs, and one punter were honored. Four of those were first-team selections.
Adams coached wide receivers for one season at Columbia (2014) after serving as the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at SUNY-Courtland (2011-13) for three seasons. His second stint with the Red Dragons netted a 24-9 overall record and three postseason berths. Courtland advanced to the second round of the 2012 NCAA Division III Playoffs and earned East Coast Athletic Conference bowl bids in 2011 and 2013.
He coached defensive backs for one season at Glenville State College (2010) after his first stint at SUNY-Courtland (2009) as the defensive backs coach.
Adams was selected to participate in the 2019 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute and returned in 2020 as a coordinator panelist at the organization’s leadership summit.
He participated in the NFL minority internship program in 2013 and 2014 and the NFL Coaching Academy in 2013. He served as the minority intern for defense with the San Francisco 49ers (2014) and Chicago Bears (2013).
Adams was a four-year starter at Concord (W.Va.) University and a three-time All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree with two first-team nods. The two-time All-Northeast Region honoree totaled 283 tackles, seven interceptions, five fumbles recovered, and five forced fumbles. He also competed in track & field and was the 2006 WVIAC triple jump runner-up.
Adams earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation and tourism Management from Concord in 2008.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
SUNY-Courtland
2009: Defensive Backs
Glenville State College
2010: Defensive Backs
SUNY-Courtland
2011-13: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Columbia University
2014: Wide Receivers
Villanova University
2015-16: Running Backs
2017-18: Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks
2019-21: Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
Denver Broncos
2022: Assistant Defensive Backs
Penn State University
2023: Defensive Analyst/Analytics Coordinator
Indiana University
2024-: Safeties/Defensive Backs
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Concord (W.Va.) University
2004-07: Defensive Back
FB: Elijah Sarratt Media Availability (9/9/25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB: Roman Hemby Media Availability (9/9/25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB: Week 3 (Indiana State) - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Monday, September 08
FB: Elijah Sarratt - KSU Postgame Press Conference (09/06/25)
Saturday, September 06
