Adam Waugh was hired in July of 2021 as the Defensive Coordinator for the Fire and spent the 2022 season as the acting head coach. He was promoted to head coach immediately following the 2022 season.  

During his season as defensive coordinator, he helped the Fire to a co-championship of the Mid-South Sun Division going 8-3 and 5-1 in conference play. Waugh's defense limited opponents to 20 points and 107 rushing yards per game, led by conference defensive player of the year Marc Viechec. 

Waugh's third campaign was the best yet, a 7-2 record with the second-best defense in the NAIA, holding opponents to a total of 10.4 points per game. Three of the first four games were shutouts, and third game of the season was a 28-10 home win over #22 Reinhardt. Twelve were named All-Sun Conference, Mark Robinson was the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year, Leroy Lopez was the Sun Conference Champion of Character, William Henry was the Sun Conference Assistant Coach of the Year, and Joseph Bonga earned NAIA Third-Team All-American status. The Fire wrapped up the season ranked 18th in the NAIA.

In 2023, the Fire posted a 5-5 record with a come-from-behind 23-20 win over #10 Reinhardt University. Four were named Sun Conference All-Conference recognition.

In his first year as head coach, the Fire were 6-4 with nine players earning All-Sun Conference recognition. Viechec repeated as defensive player of the year and Kaylan Wiggins was a first-team selection at quarterback and spent rookie mini-camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Waugh has over 20 years of coaching experience with 15 of those at the NCAA Division I FBS and FCS ranks which include appearances in the Insight and Independence Bowls.

As the Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties coach at Louisiana-Monroe, Waugh helped the Warhawks to their first bowl game in program history in 2012. That season, ULM opened with a win at Arkansas and took Auburn to overtime a week later. Despite opening that season with three Power 5 opponents, Waugh's secondary came away with 16 interceptions in 13 games. 

Waugh also spent time at Pittsburgh, Army, Cal Poly, and Northwestern State as an assistant coach. During the 2002 season at Pittsburgh, the Panthers were 9-4 and reached the Insight Bowl. He also had the opportunity to coach Caleb Campbell at West Point who is the only player from the program to be drafted since 1997. 

Since moving to Tampa, Waugh has helped Jesuit reach the FHSAA Semifinals in 2018 and helped Calvary Christian post its best two-year run in program history at 15-5.