Jim Durning joined the Panthers’ football staff in 2024 as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for football.
Durning brings a wealth of experience to the Panthers, having previously held strength and conditioning roles at Georgia, Southern Mississippi, Charlotte, and James Madison.
Most recently, he served as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach at the University of Georgia from 2021–2022, marking a return to the Bulldogs' program after a 22-year absence.
Before his second stint at Georgia, Durning was the Director of Strength and Conditioning and head strength coach for football at Southern Mississippi.
In 2012, Durning was named the inaugural Strength and Conditioning Coach for Football at Charlotte. He played a key role in establishing the 49ers program, guiding them through the 2012 redshirt season and their first four years of competition.
Prior to that, Durning spent 13 seasons as the strength and conditioning coach at James Madison University. During his tenure, the Dukes compiled a 96–61 record and made six FCS playoff appearances, including a 2004 National Championship and a trip to the 2008 National Semifinals.
A 1992 graduate of Marshall University, Durning captained the Thundering Herd’s National Championship team that same year. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Marshall from 1994–1996, contributing to the team’s 1995 national finalist season. He later joined the Georgia Bulldogs, where he was part of two bowl game appearances before moving on to work under head coach Mickey Matthews at James Madison.
Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Durning and his wife, Nancy, have four children: Alexandria, Morgan, Mason, and Colin.
