Temple University Athletics
Temple Athletics Announces Executive Leadership Staff Hires, Promotions
8.1.22 | General
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University Vice President and Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson announced the hiring of three new members of the department's executive leadership team as well as the promotions of five staff members.
Joining the Owls Executive Leadership staff will be Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives and Sports Derek Horne, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations Ed Stoner, and Coordinator of Leadership Operations Tia Withers.
The following staff members were promoted: Kristy Bannon to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student Affairs; Justin Miller to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff; Lee Roberts to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management; and Tim Thiess to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Finance and Administration.
Katie Colbridge Ganzelli was also promoted from Administrative Assistant to Marketing Coordinator for On-Campus Initiatives.
"I am excited to welcome Ed, Derek, and Tia to the Temple Athletics family and also reward key members of the executive leadership team with well-deserved promotions," said Johnson. "These additions and promotions solidify our executive leadership staff and provide Temple with an extremely talented and knowledgeable administrative team to lead the athletics department."
Below are bio sketches on the staff members.
Derek Horne, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives and Sports
Horne, a veteran athletics administrator who has served as Director of Athletics for two NCAA Division I institutions, will oversee marketing and promotions, ticket sales, and video production for Temple Athletics. He most recently served seven years as the Director of Athletics at Alcorn State (2014-21).
During Horne's tenure at Alcorn State, the football team won four SWAC Championships with Alcorn becoming the first-ever institution to host a football SWAC Championship game. Women's tennis won two conference championships and women's cross country won one under his leadership. He also was a member of the President's Cabinet during his time at the school.
Prior to Alcorn State, Horne served as the Director of Athletics at Florida A&M University (2010-13). During his three years at the school, football won the 2010 MEAC Championship with men's and women's cross country winning the conference title in 2012.
Horne began his career in college athletics as the Senior Associate Athletics Director at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi ('87), in 1995. A four-year member of the Rebels' basketball team, Horne spearheaded the school's correspondence and development with former athletes. He was also a proponent of and director of the CHAMPS Life Skills programs.
Horne has also served on the following NCAA committees: Division I Recruiting and Athletics Personnel Issues Cabinet; Pathways Selection Committee; Football Championship Subdivision - South Regional Advisory Committee; Low-Resource Institutions Athletic Directors' Advisory Committee.
Ed Stoner, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations
Stoner, who has over 30 years of professional experience including senior athletics leadership positions at two universities, will oversee athletics development, strategic communications, and digital strategy and branding for Temple Athletics. The veteran administrator most recently served as Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at Temple University's College of Education and Human Development since 2020.
A leader at virtually every stop in his career, Stoner served as executive director for Touchmark in the West Hills (2017-19), a $100 million senior living community in Portland, Ore.; Athletic Director for Multnomah Athletic Club (2008-17), a 21,000-member private city athletic club in Portland; Senior Associate Athletic Director at Northeastern University (2004-08), where he had oversight of the athletics budget as well as 11 varsity teams; Associate Athletic Director at UMass-Lowell (1997-2004).
Named the 2012 Athletic Director of the Year by the North American Association of Club Athletic Directors, Stoner also has worked as the Advertising and Marketing Coordinator for the University of Delaware Office of Public Relations (1992-97) and Box Office and Event Services Manager for Spectacor Management Group (1990-92).
Stoner earned his Doctor of Education from the University of Delaware in 2000. An adjunct professor at four universities since 1995, he also owns a Master of Sport Administration from Ohio University ('90) and a Bachelor of Science in management from Georgia Tech ('88).
Tia Withers, Coordinator of Leadership Operations
Withers, who served as the Executive Assistant to the head football coach at FIU from 2018-2022, has been named Coordinator of Leadership Operations for Temple Athletics.
Withers, who her master's degree in sports management from FIU ('22), was responsible for the organization of the head football coach Butch Davis' calendar and schedule as well as coordinating all staff and team meetings as well as recruiting-related travel for Davis. She also served as assistant director of football operations and was responsible for the program's travel logistics and day-to-day operations, including practices, study hall and player meeting schedules.
Withers graduated from the University of Alabama in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in communications and information sciences and later earned her master's degree in sports management from FIU in 2022. While an undergraduate, she was a student assistant on the football staff, working with recruiting and operations of the program.
Kristy Bannon, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student Affairs
This is the fourth promotion for Bannon, who has worked in compliance and student services for Temple Athletics since 2008. She has served in the role of Senior Associate AD/Compliance & Student-Athlete Affairs since July 2017.
In her role, she oversees all aspects of the department's compliance efforts with conference and NCAA rules and regulations. She works to educate coaches, administrators, and student-athletes regarding new rules and regulations as well as the processing of NCAA and conference waivers on behalf of student-athletes.
Bannon, who owns a bachelor's degree in history from Rosemont College ('08) and her master's degree in sports administration from Temple ('10), serves as the liaison with the University's Student Affairs and Title IX Offices.
Justin Miller to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff
Miller, who has been with Temple University since 2010, has overseen the Nancy and Donald Resnick Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic & Career Services.
Under Miller's leadership, Temple's student-athletes experienced tremendous academic success, combining for over a 3.0 GPA for 21 consecutive semesters, with 15 of last 21 terms greater than 3.1. In addition to grade point averages, graduation rates climbed significantly since Miller's arrival to North Philadelphia, with Temple's overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) increasing from a 70 in 2009 to 93 in 2021.
Miller, who earned a bachelor's degree from Muhlenberg College ('01) and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Sport Business Management from the University of Central Florida ('04), worked with the University to create Temple's first Coordinator of Leadership & Professional Development position in 2018. In addition to providing innovative and outcome-driven programming, this position worked closely with Miller to develop and facilitate the Stanley Merves Leadership Academy, Temple Athletics' first student-athlete leadership curriculum.
Prior to Temple Miller served five years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Academics & Student-Athlete Development at the University of South Florida.
Lee Roberts, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management
Roberts, the longest tenured senior administrator within Temple Athletics, began his career at the University in 1984. This is his third promotion since 2015. He had served in the role of Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management since September 2018.
Roberts oversees the maintenance and upkeep of the University's athletic facilities, both on the main and Ambler campuses, as well as serving as the department's liaison with The Liacouras Center and Lincoln Financial Field.
The 1982 Temple graduate manages the game operations of all athletic events. He has helped to facilitate numerous conference and national competitions that Temple has hosted during that time, including the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball first and second rounds, the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Philadelphia Regional, the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Philadelphia Regional, and the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Second and Third Rounds at the Wells Fargo Center.
Tim Thiess, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Finance and Administration
Thiess, who has been with Temple Athletics since 2011, has been the Athletics Chief Financial Officer since being promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Finance and Administration in 2014. In 2016, Thiess was elevated again to Senior Associate AD/Finance and Administration.
In his role, Thiess is responsible for managing the athletics department budget, the athletics business office, and athletic equipment operations. He also serves as athletics' primary liaison with Human Resources, Office of Management and Budget, Purchasing, Controller's Office, University Counsel, Risk Management, and Information Technology Services.
Thiess holds two degrees from Temple University -- a bachelor's degree in sport and recreation management with a minor in business, as well as a master's degree in human resources management.
Katie Colbridge Ganzelli, Marketing Coordinator for On-Campus Initiatives.
Colbridge Ganzelli, who has served as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Athletics since August 2018, has been promoted to Marketing Coordinator for On-Campus Initiatives. It is the second promotion for Colbridge Ganzelli, who had served two years (2016-18) as an Administrative Specialist for Temple Men's and Women's Basketball Teams.
Colbridge Ganzelli, who also serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee as the chair of the Professional Practices Subcommittee, was active in marketing Temple Athletics in her previous role. Besides her administrative duties, she also is the content creator for the Temple Owls' TikTok account @templeowls.
Colbridge Ganzelli earned dual bachelor's degrees in Sport & Recreation Management and Media Studies & Production from Temple in 2016 and later Colbridge earned her master's degree from the University in Sports Business with a concentration in Athletics Administration in 2019.
Joining the Owls Executive Leadership staff will be Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives and Sports Derek Horne, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations Ed Stoner, and Coordinator of Leadership Operations Tia Withers.
The following staff members were promoted: Kristy Bannon to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student Affairs; Justin Miller to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff; Lee Roberts to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management; and Tim Thiess to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Finance and Administration.
Katie Colbridge Ganzelli was also promoted from Administrative Assistant to Marketing Coordinator for On-Campus Initiatives.
"I am excited to welcome Ed, Derek, and Tia to the Temple Athletics family and also reward key members of the executive leadership team with well-deserved promotions," said Johnson. "These additions and promotions solidify our executive leadership staff and provide Temple with an extremely talented and knowledgeable administrative team to lead the athletics department."
Below are bio sketches on the staff members.
Derek Horne, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives and Sports
Horne, a veteran athletics administrator who has served as Director of Athletics for two NCAA Division I institutions, will oversee marketing and promotions, ticket sales, and video production for Temple Athletics. He most recently served seven years as the Director of Athletics at Alcorn State (2014-21).
During Horne's tenure at Alcorn State, the football team won four SWAC Championships with Alcorn becoming the first-ever institution to host a football SWAC Championship game. Women's tennis won two conference championships and women's cross country won one under his leadership. He also was a member of the President's Cabinet during his time at the school.
Prior to Alcorn State, Horne served as the Director of Athletics at Florida A&M University (2010-13). During his three years at the school, football won the 2010 MEAC Championship with men's and women's cross country winning the conference title in 2012.
Horne began his career in college athletics as the Senior Associate Athletics Director at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi ('87), in 1995. A four-year member of the Rebels' basketball team, Horne spearheaded the school's correspondence and development with former athletes. He was also a proponent of and director of the CHAMPS Life Skills programs.
Horne has also served on the following NCAA committees: Division I Recruiting and Athletics Personnel Issues Cabinet; Pathways Selection Committee; Football Championship Subdivision - South Regional Advisory Committee; Low-Resource Institutions Athletic Directors' Advisory Committee.
Ed Stoner, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations
Stoner, who has over 30 years of professional experience including senior athletics leadership positions at two universities, will oversee athletics development, strategic communications, and digital strategy and branding for Temple Athletics. The veteran administrator most recently served as Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at Temple University's College of Education and Human Development since 2020.
A leader at virtually every stop in his career, Stoner served as executive director for Touchmark in the West Hills (2017-19), a $100 million senior living community in Portland, Ore.; Athletic Director for Multnomah Athletic Club (2008-17), a 21,000-member private city athletic club in Portland; Senior Associate Athletic Director at Northeastern University (2004-08), where he had oversight of the athletics budget as well as 11 varsity teams; Associate Athletic Director at UMass-Lowell (1997-2004).
Named the 2012 Athletic Director of the Year by the North American Association of Club Athletic Directors, Stoner also has worked as the Advertising and Marketing Coordinator for the University of Delaware Office of Public Relations (1992-97) and Box Office and Event Services Manager for Spectacor Management Group (1990-92).
Stoner earned his Doctor of Education from the University of Delaware in 2000. An adjunct professor at four universities since 1995, he also owns a Master of Sport Administration from Ohio University ('90) and a Bachelor of Science in management from Georgia Tech ('88).
Tia Withers, Coordinator of Leadership Operations
Withers, who served as the Executive Assistant to the head football coach at FIU from 2018-2022, has been named Coordinator of Leadership Operations for Temple Athletics.
Withers, who her master's degree in sports management from FIU ('22), was responsible for the organization of the head football coach Butch Davis' calendar and schedule as well as coordinating all staff and team meetings as well as recruiting-related travel for Davis. She also served as assistant director of football operations and was responsible for the program's travel logistics and day-to-day operations, including practices, study hall and player meeting schedules.
Withers graduated from the University of Alabama in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in communications and information sciences and later earned her master's degree in sports management from FIU in 2022. While an undergraduate, she was a student assistant on the football staff, working with recruiting and operations of the program.
Kristy Bannon, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and Student Affairs
This is the fourth promotion for Bannon, who has worked in compliance and student services for Temple Athletics since 2008. She has served in the role of Senior Associate AD/Compliance & Student-Athlete Affairs since July 2017.
In her role, she oversees all aspects of the department's compliance efforts with conference and NCAA rules and regulations. She works to educate coaches, administrators, and student-athletes regarding new rules and regulations as well as the processing of NCAA and conference waivers on behalf of student-athletes.
Bannon, who owns a bachelor's degree in history from Rosemont College ('08) and her master's degree in sports administration from Temple ('10), serves as the liaison with the University's Student Affairs and Title IX Offices.
Justin Miller to Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff
Miller, who has been with Temple University since 2010, has overseen the Nancy and Donald Resnick Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic & Career Services.
Under Miller's leadership, Temple's student-athletes experienced tremendous academic success, combining for over a 3.0 GPA for 21 consecutive semesters, with 15 of last 21 terms greater than 3.1. In addition to grade point averages, graduation rates climbed significantly since Miller's arrival to North Philadelphia, with Temple's overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) increasing from a 70 in 2009 to 93 in 2021.
Miller, who earned a bachelor's degree from Muhlenberg College ('01) and a Master of Business Administration and Master of Sport Business Management from the University of Central Florida ('04), worked with the University to create Temple's first Coordinator of Leadership & Professional Development position in 2018. In addition to providing innovative and outcome-driven programming, this position worked closely with Miller to develop and facilitate the Stanley Merves Leadership Academy, Temple Athletics' first student-athlete leadership curriculum.
Prior to Temple Miller served five years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Academics & Student-Athlete Development at the University of South Florida.
Lee Roberts, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management
Roberts, the longest tenured senior administrator within Temple Athletics, began his career at the University in 1984. This is his third promotion since 2015. He had served in the role of Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management since September 2018.
Roberts oversees the maintenance and upkeep of the University's athletic facilities, both on the main and Ambler campuses, as well as serving as the department's liaison with The Liacouras Center and Lincoln Financial Field.
The 1982 Temple graduate manages the game operations of all athletic events. He has helped to facilitate numerous conference and national competitions that Temple has hosted during that time, including the 2004 NCAA Women's Basketball first and second rounds, the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball Philadelphia Regional, the 2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Philadelphia Regional, and the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Second and Third Rounds at the Wells Fargo Center.
Tim Thiess, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Finance and Administration
Thiess, who has been with Temple Athletics since 2011, has been the Athletics Chief Financial Officer since being promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Finance and Administration in 2014. In 2016, Thiess was elevated again to Senior Associate AD/Finance and Administration.
In his role, Thiess is responsible for managing the athletics department budget, the athletics business office, and athletic equipment operations. He also serves as athletics' primary liaison with Human Resources, Office of Management and Budget, Purchasing, Controller's Office, University Counsel, Risk Management, and Information Technology Services.
Thiess holds two degrees from Temple University -- a bachelor's degree in sport and recreation management with a minor in business, as well as a master's degree in human resources management.
Katie Colbridge Ganzelli, Marketing Coordinator for On-Campus Initiatives.
Colbridge Ganzelli, who has served as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Athletics since August 2018, has been promoted to Marketing Coordinator for On-Campus Initiatives. It is the second promotion for Colbridge Ganzelli, who had served two years (2016-18) as an Administrative Specialist for Temple Men's and Women's Basketball Teams.
Colbridge Ganzelli, who also serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee as the chair of the Professional Practices Subcommittee, was active in marketing Temple Athletics in her previous role. Besides her administrative duties, she also is the content creator for the Temple Owls' TikTok account @templeowls.
Colbridge Ganzelli earned dual bachelor's degrees in Sport & Recreation Management and Media Studies & Production from Temple in 2016 and later Colbridge earned her master's degree from the University in Sports Business with a concentration in Athletics Administration in 2019.
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