John Abner Penton (February 10, 1870 – October 17, 1919) was an American football player and coach.

[2] After he graduated from the University of Virginia, Penton chose to play as a "special student" fullback on the Auburn football team under head coach, his long-time companion, John Heisman in 1897.

The first coach at Clemson, Walter Riggs, had in fact played on the team as well.

Penton then served as the third head football coach at Clemson University for one season in 1898, compiling a record of 3–1 before the program ran out of money.

This biographical article relating to a college football coach first appointed in the 1890s is a stub.