DHR Assists Temple University with Head Football Coach Search

January 14, 2025 – Glenn SugiyamaTony Hernandez , Dan Guerrero, and Craig Thompson of talent advisory firm DHR Global recently assisted in the recruitment of  K.C. Keeler as the new head coach of the Temple football program. “Coach Keeler has a track record of evaluating, recruiting, and developing student-athletes into championship-level young men,” vice president/Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz director of athletics Arthur Johnson said. “His leadership, experience, and the culture he establishes within programs are exactly what Temple football needs as we look to return to prominence in the competitive college football landscape. We are ecstatic to welcome K.C., his wife, Janice, and his entire family to Temple.”

“Coach Keeler is a proven winner, but just as important as that, he is a proven program builder. That is exactly what he did at both the University of Delaware and Sam Houston State University,” said John Fry, president of Temple University. “He also led the Bearkats through a seamless transition from the FCS to the FBS, where his teams continually rose to the challenge. Coach Keeler is the perfect leader to help us navigate the rapidly changing landscape of college football and position Temple to compete for conference championships and play in bowl games. This is a great day for Temple University.”

“DHR Global is thrilled to congratulate K.C. Keeler on being hired as the new head football coach for the Temple University Owls,” the firm said in a LinkedIn post. “With a proven track record of success, including FCS National Championships at both Delaware and Sam Houston State, Coach Keeler brings a wealth of experience and a passion for turning programs around. His deep ties to the Philadelphia area and history of success have sparked a renewed sense of optimism for Temple football. This is a new chapter filled with promise, and we can’t wait to see the impact he will have on the Owls’ future.”

“The DHR sport practice is proud to have assisted Temple in the placement of coach Keeler in this key role, which earned a prestigious CBS Sports grade of A, reflecting the significance and level of this important hire,” the firm said. “We look forward to watching the program thrive under his leadership.”

Voted one of the 150 greatest college coaches of all time by Blue Ribbon ESPN panel in 2019, Mr. Keeler most recently served as head coach at Sam Houston where he compiled a 97-39 record over his 11 years at the helm. The Bearkats advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs six times and went a perfect 10-0 during the 2020 season to capture a FCS national title. Additionally, Mr. Keeler guided the Bearkats through their successful transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision as part of Conference USA, where they earned bowl eligibility this year with a 9-3 record. Mr. Keeler’s experience also includes coaching stints at Rowan University (1993-2001) and the University of Delaware (2002-12), where he led the Blue Hens to three FCS national championship game appearances and won the 2003 title.

“I am beyond thrilled to be named Temple University’s next head football coach,” said Mr. Keeler. “I would like to thank Arthur Johnson and president John Fry for  this incredible opportunity. Their shared vision and enthusiasm for returning this program to greatness has been contagious. I’m eager to get to work to bring that vision to fruition for the Cherry and the White. It’s a perfect fit and it feels great to be coming back home.”

“Coach Keeler took a chance on me 20 years ago and I’ll never forget that,” said Joe Flacco, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts and Super Bowl XLVII MVP. “I couldn’t be more excited for him and his family. If you’re an Owls fan, I’d be excited. He has been a winner everywhere he’s been.”

Since 1989, DHR Global has been a leading, privately held provider of executive search solutions with more than 50 wholly owned offices spanning the globe. The firm’s consultants specialize in all industries and functions, providing senior-level executive search, management assessment, and succession planning services.

Serving the Sports Sector

DHR’s sports practice is a global specialty for the firm with capabilities on six continents across all sports-related organizations. These range from Fortune 500 companies and professional sports teams to public and private university athletics. The firm has overseen searches for the University of Pittsburgh, Colorado State University, Fresno State University, San Jose State, Kansas, Syracuse, and Quinnipiac University, among others.

Related: DHR Places First General Counsel for Atlantic Coast Conference

Mr. Sugiyama is managing partner, global sports practice and North American marketing committee member. Since 2004, he has been placing talent in professional sports organizations and for the top academic institutions in the U.S. and around the world, including senior sports executives and head coaches. He is based in Chicago. Mr. Sugiyama’s past searches include the 2006 Stanford football search that landed Jim Harbaugh. He assisted Purdue in hiring former Cardinal Jeff Brohm as its football coach and Florida State University (FSU) in an athletic director search that saw former University of Louisville AD Vince Tyra become a candidate before FSU hired Seminole Boosters CEO Michael Alford.


DHR Global Recruits Head Baseball Coach for Northwestern University

DHR Global assisted in the recruitment of Ben Greenspan as Northwestern University’s new head baseball coach. DHR’s managing partner and global sports practice leader Glenn Sugiyama led the assignment. “After an extensive nationwide search, Ben’s experience and coaching prowess quickly set him apart within the candidate pool,” said Derrick Gragg, vice president for athletics and recreation at Northwestern. “At each of his stops, he has consistently showcased his ability to develop both players and programs. With a proven track record of recruiting top talent and fostering growth, we’re confident Ben will lead our baseball program to new heights.”


Mr. Guerrero serves as partner in the sports practice group, based out of the Los Angeles office. As one of the most decorated college athletic directors in history, he brings over 30 years of experience in the sports industry, with extensive experience in D1 athletic programs. Prior to his executive search career, Mr. Guerrero served as the director of athletics at UCLA for 18 years, where his institution won 32 NCAA National Championships in 15 different sports.

Mr. Hernandez serves as partner in the sports practice group based in the firm’s Charlotte office. Bringing over 25 years of experience, he has expertise in college athletics at the national and conference levels. For most of his career, Mr. Hernandez has provided strategic consulting to strengthen collegiate athletic departments in areas including strategic assessments, operational and policy review, revenue and expense analysis, NCAA issues and reviews, fan experience assessments, NIL issues and protocols, and major partner contracts, and RFP analysis.

Mr. Thompson serves as partner in the sports practice group and is based in the firm’s Denver office. A 44-year veteran of athletic administration, with all but eight of those years sitting in a commissioner’s chair, Mr. Thompson brings extensive knowledge and experience in the athletic sector. Prior to joining DHR, he served as commissioner of the Mountain West Conference for over 20 years, where he was responsible for nearly $600 million in television revenue and was an innovator in the postseason bowl structures. Throughout his career, Mr. Thompson has been an integral part of the national landscape in intercollegiate athletics, holding many prestigious positions on NCAA and sport-specific national committees.

Related: DHR Global Recruits Men’s Head Basketball Coach for University of New Hampshire

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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