Duquesne University is losing the architect of its recent athletic rise, with Vice President of Athletics Dave Harper set to leave the Bluff for a senior athletics post at Baylor in early May. Harper, who has led the department since 2015, oversaw a long list of big-ticket projects, from transforming the A.J. Palumbo Center into the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse to adding multiple women’s sports. To keep things steady while he packs for Waco, the school has tapped senior associate athletic director John Henderson as interim athletic director and elevated Rick Christensen to interim deputy athletic director, a reshuffle that lands right as the Dukes try to capitalize on their winning streak.
According to TribLIVE, Harper accepted an executive senior athletic director position at Baylor and is expected to transition to his new role in Waco in early May. The outlet reports that Duquesne President Ken Gormley praised Harper's 11 years of leadership over the athletics program and confirmed that Henderson will assume Harper's duties once the move becomes official. TribLIVE also notes that Christensen will serve as interim deputy athletic director during the handoff period.
Harper's decade-plus run on the Bluff
As outlined by Duquesne University Athletics, Harper took over as director of athletics in October 2015, later having his role expanded to vice president of athletics in March 2021. During that stretch, he drove a department-wide strategic plan that included building and opening the on-campus UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse and rolling out initiatives such as the PNC Leadership Academy aimed at student-athlete development. University materials also credit Harper with beefing up the department's performance, medical and branding infrastructure, creating a more modern setup behind the scenes.
On-field results and program growth
The most visible payoff came this spring. Duquesne's men's basketball team stormed to the 2024 Atlantic 10 Tournament title, then delivered the program's first NCAA Tournament victory in decades, a run highlighted by The Sporting News. Off the court, the department expanded its footprint by adding women's bowling, diving, and acrobatics & tumbling, and Duquesne football stacked multiple Northeast Conference titles and FCS playoff appearances during Harper's tenure. Those collective gains formed the backdrop for the leadership transition outlined in the TribLIVE report.
Henderson steps in as interim AD
Henderson, who joined Duquesne in 2016 as associate athletic director for sports medicine and performance, will step into Harper's role on an interim basis, according to the school's staff directory. He oversees healthcare and performance services for roughly 500 student-athletes and serves as the sport administrator for men's basketball, football, and bowling. Henderson holds a bachelor's degree in clinical athletic training from Weber State and a master's in sports conditioning and performance from Southern Utah, and the university credits him with advancing mental-health services, nutrition programs, and strength-and-conditioning support that power the Dukes' daily operations.
What's next for the Dukes
With Harper scheduled to depart in early May, Duquesne's interim leadership group will be juggling the usual spring recruiting and offseason work while managing a significant front-office change. The internal promotions are designed to keep facilities, medical care, and performance operations running smoothly while the university works through its next steps. For fans and campus stakeholders, the immediate concern will be keeping coaches and student-athletes on track amid the uncertainty.
Harper's exit effectively starts a new chapter for both Duquesne and Baylor. Duquesne now has to show it can sustain its recent on-field success and department growth without the administrator who helped build it, while Henderson is tasked with keeping the ship steady in the short term. University officials are expected to share more details on the search and transition process as Harper's move draws closer.
