UB Athletics: A Profile on D’Ann Keller

D’Ann Keller is currently the Deputy Director of Athletics, the Senior Woman Administrator, and the Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee for UB Athletics. She graciously took the time to share insights into her career and offer advice for those interested in pursuing careers in athletics.

How It Started

D’Ann developed a love for athletics from her involvement in sports growing up. She made a late switch from finance to exercise science for her undergraduate degree at a time when there was not much formal training available for professional athletic jobs. Most administrative jobs were filled by coaches moving off the field. One of her early roles was in college admissions analyzing NCAA eligibility before the clearinghouse was implemented, and she also counseled students at the nationally ranked Indiana Academy. She continued paving her own path by customizing a sports administration concentration for her Master of Arts.

She also brought her expertise to the conference level, working at the Mid-American Conference and Horizon League, before working at the NCAA as the Associate Director of Championships and Alliances. One of her favorite aspects of working at the conference and NCAA level was organizing entire championship events, from the beginning planning stage to presenting the trophy to the winning team.

Her love for daily interaction with students and coaches prompted her to move back to a role at the university level, first at Saint Louis University and now at University at Buffalo. For D’Ann, college athletics has so many things happening at a fast pace that there is no typical day and there are always new opportunities. In her first few years at UB, she has embraced many new responsibilities including Title IX compliance, violence prevention initiatives, broader sports administration duties, DEI initiatives, sports medicine, and nutrition and mental health of student-athletes, showcasing her commitment to fostering a comprehensive and supportive athletic environment.

One aspect of her job that D’Ann finds most rewarding is seeing student athletes succeed. Because students feel like an adopted family to her, it is fulfilling to watch a student athlete dealing with a severe injury or personal issue work so hard to come back to the competition. D’Ann tries to focus on the positives even in demanding situations, such as shoveling the Buffalo snow from an entire field before a competition.

Leadership

With experience at the university, conference, and national office level, D’Ann reflected on how her career has shaped her approach to leadership. Working at the NCAA has a corporate feel because it is a governing body that is providing structure to what is happening across the country. To support the goal of creating an equitable playing field, it provides financial support, educational programs, and governing rules influenced by input from athletic directors, coaches, and administrators around the country. However, it is often easier said than done to align everyone’s interests. As an example, D’Ann mentioned how NIL policies need to protect all students from being taken advantage of, but there are significant differences among the sizes of schools and among the divisions.

Within the conference, there are similar goals to the NCAA, but with fewer stakeholders which often make it easier to achieve consensus. And without each individual school, there would not be any conferences or a national office. It is important for each school to not lose sight of helping students because some students would not be able to receive an education without the opportunity to participate in sports.

D’Ann builds partnerships within the school by focusing on communication and transparency. By fostering a one-team approach, all departments can work together for the best outcome for UB and its students. D’Ann invites everyone to share their perspectives on finding solutions and reciprocates to other departments when they need support. A key aspect of sharing resources within the university is opening athletic facilities for use by other groups on campus.

When hiring, she seeks top performers who are not only skilled and possess integrity but also bring a positive, upbeat attitude every day. She prioritizes individuals who are strong communicators, adaptable, and collaborative team players. In athletics, where demands often encroach on evenings and weekends, she values those who can maintain enthusiasm and resilience. Recognizing the high burnout rates in the industry, she fosters a supportive community and prioritizes flexibility to help staff balance their professional responsibilities with family and personal life. Additionally, she looks for candidates who demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a genuine passion for supporting student-athlete success.

To help student-athletes navigate conflicts between athletic and academic priorities, academic advisors are assigned to specific teams to provide support. There are also mandatory study hours, tutors, and other support to reduce conflicts between classes and athletics. D’Ann makes sure she listens to the students to find out what is really going on, because there may be personal issues also interfering with their ability to succeed. Most important is teaching student-athletes to advocate for themselves by communicating directly to teachers about upcoming missed time for travel or games.

Insights for the Future

D’Ann sees college athletics as an everchanging landscape primarily because of new lawsuits. Many recent policies have been developed in response to lawsuits that are being filed. She wishes that more often people could come around the table to take a hard look at the rules and be focused on changes for the future to develop a better model for keeping student-athletes in a safe environment without resorting to the courts stepping in.

The recent House settlement, if approved, will have significant impacts on the financial support of athletic departments. She also projects upcoming changes to Title IX, although it took the prior administration almost 3.5 years to get current regulations approved. There is a need to ensure structured college sports survive these changes without reverting to club sports.

NIL is an area still unsettled. Even though it was clear that NIL changes were coming, New York was slower to develop its NIL laws, and it is now harder to reign in its scope to the original intent. D’Ann is focused on providing education for students, corporate partners, and the community to ensure win-win solutions. A key focus for students is making resources available, including education about taxes, branding, contracts, and other issues to assist them in making informed decisions. UB has established a collective and created apparel opportunities allowing students to make money from apparel featuring their name or picture.

There also may be changes with student eligibility and the transfer portal. Across the country, students who enter the transfer portal find the grass is not greener on the other side, and their original school is not obligated to take the student back once they enter the transfer portal. National attention on healthcare and player safety, particularly concussions, requires the school to diligently keep up with any changing obligations or best practices.

Additionally, as conferences shift from regional to national scope, there are increased concerns about rest, nutrition, and minimizing injuries when the team now must travel across the country for a game.

Advice

D’Ann highlights the rewarding nature of a career in university sports management, despite its demanding schedule of nights, weekends, and holidays. She values the dynamic environment, which fuels her love of learning through constant challenges and new projects.

She emphasizes the variety of roles in athletics, catering to diverse interests like business, hospitality, fundraising, branding, and sports law. Her advice to aspiring professionals is to take risks in pursuing their passions, knowing there’s always room to pivot if needed.