Duquesne announced a change in its athletic department leadership Tuesday, as athletic director Dave Harper has accepted a position at Baylor, the university revealed.
Stepping in as interim athletic director will be John Henderson, who previously was senior associate athletic director for the Dukes.
Harper is set to transition to his new role at Baylor as executive senior athletic director in early May, at which point Henderson will assume his duties.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations and deep appreciation to Dave Harper for his impressive 11-year leadership of the athletics program at Duquesne,” Duquesne president Ken Gormley said in a news release. “Being recruited to work at a Big 12 school like Baylor is a wonderful opportunity and a testament to Dave’s extraordinary success in elevating Duquesne’s program.”
Harper had been on the job at Duquesne since 2015, and his role was expanded to vice president of athletics in early 2021.
His tenure saw the completed renovation of the former A.J. Palumbo Center in 2021, which was renamed UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
On the gridiron, the Dukes captured three Northeast Conference titles with Harper at the helm and qualified for the FCS playoffs three times.
Women’s bowling, diving and acrobatics and tumbling were added as new sports at Duquesne during Harper’s tenure.
Perhaps most notably, Harper was at the helm in 2024 when Duquesne men’s basketball won its first NCAA Tournament game in 55 years, as well as its first Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament since 1977.
In his previous role, Henderson oversaw Duquesne’s football, men’s basketball and women’s bowling teams, while playing a lead role in sports medicine, mental health and counseling, nutrition, and strength and conditioning for student-athletes.
Henderson is a 2007 graduate of Weber State with a bachelor’s degree in clinical athletic training. He also earned a master’s in sports conditioning and performance from Southern Utah in 2011.
He originally joined Duquesne in 2016 as associate athletic director for sports medicine and performance.
“I am deeply humbled and honored by the trust placed in me to lead Duquesne athletics, where I have loved serving our student-athletes and helping them drive personal and team success,” Henderson said. “Our program has made enormous strides and has great momentum. I look forward to continuing to build a culture of sustained excellence while showcasing our student-athletes and our great institution.”
Added Gormley: “After consultation with president-elect David Dausey and board chair Diane Hupp, we’ve agreed that John Henderson is well-prepared to take the reins as interim athletic director at Duquesne. He’s spent a decade working alongside (Harper) and has been an invaluable partner in producing championship teams in men’s basketball, football and other sports. John is ready to move into the top role and leave his own mark.”
Duquesne also announced Tuesday that senior associate athletic director Rick Christensen will be promoted to interim deputy athletic director.