Life University Athletics

On October 26, 2016 Pendergast was named Life University Director of Athletics. During her time at Life U, the Athletic Department has seen tremendous growth, including the addition of fourteen new varsity teams, growing the department to over 600 student-athletes, the largest athletic program in metro-Atlanta.  
 
Under Pendergast’s leadership, Life University’s athletic success has soared.  Over the past three years alone, student-athletes earned 36 individual national championships, seven team national championships, and 194 All-American honors.  Life University has landed inside the top 15 in NACDA Director’s Cup final standings the last three years, with their highest finish (7^th) in the 2023 and another top 10 finish in 2025.  In addition to their NAIA success, Life University sits atop the USA Rugby collegiate side.  In 2023 Life U captured both the men’s and women’s Premier 7s Rugby National Championship, and in 2024 they captured their very first D1 Elite Women’s 15s National Championship.  2025 also saw both men’s and women’s programs make it to the 15s national championship game.  Academically, Life University student-athletes have demonstrated their highest collective academic achievements under Pendergast’s leadership, continuously growing department GPA and earning an increased number of student-athlete and team academic recognition awards year over year. Pendergast has also hired numerous head coaches who have earned conference and national coach of the year honors.

From a student-athlete experience standpoint, Pendergast and her team continues to find creative ways to create a meaningful student-athlete experience.   Their More Than An Athlete (MTAA) program is about student-facing areas associated with physical, mental, and nutritional health and wellness as well as campus engagement.  Their Fuel Station continues to be a practical and educational resource that is utilized by more than 60% of student-athletes.  Life U provides valuable mental skills training free to their student-athletes through an outside partnership with Head Games Consulting.  In addition, the athletic care department continues to be one of the most comprehensive athletic care departments in the NAIA, integrating free sport chiropractic care in close collaboration with their broad athletic training resources.  Pendergast has overseen a vast amount of facility improvements at Life U including the construction of the Running Eagle Performance Center, which includes a dedicated wrestling room, weight room, locker rooms, and office space.  Pendergast has also executed fundraising for four new video boards for their facilities, a renovated study hall, and hall of fame display. 

Pendergast is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), NAIA Athletic Directors Association, and Women Leaders in College Sports.  She currently sits on the NAIA National Administrative Council (NAC), is the chair of the NAC Rules Committee, and NAC liaison for women’s wrestling.  She is also a member of the Cobb Sports Alliance Steering Committee, and a member at Piedmont Church.
 
Pendergast was named 2023 Southern States Athletic Director of the Year, 2024 Women Leaders in Sports Nike NAIA Executive of the Year, and was named a 2024 Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. 

Pendergast and her husband Tripp reside in Marietta, Ga. with their son, Brooks, and daughter, Logan.