Hardin-Simmons University

 
Brenda Andress is the head cycling coach for HSU. Andress got into competitive cycling following a collegiate basketball injury. She raced cross-country in the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association (TMBRA) series for many years, beginning as a Cat 3 and finishing her career in the pro/open category. In 2010, she won the Cat 2 State Championship.
 
Andress has competed in numerous endurance events, including races like 24-Hours in the Canyon, the Ouachita Challenge in Arkansas, and the Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado. She has competed in cyclocross races, gravel races, and road races, including the Hotter’N Hell 100. She is a 2-time participant of the Tour de Pink, a 3-day ride covering 200 miles in California.
 
In 2018, she raced a season of enduro as an ambassador for Julianna Bicycles and World Bicycle Relief. During her campaign, Andress and her sponsors raised enough money to donate 100 bicycles to people around the world through WBR.
 
Before moving to full-time coaching at HSU, Andress was a high school teacher and coach, most recently the head girls’ basketball coach at Abilene High. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Abilene Christian University and a master’s degree in leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has a level 1 NICA certification and a level 2 USAC certification.