Temple University Athletics
Staff Spotlight: Jenna Komosinski & Jennifer Keller
1.24.23 | Cheerleading, Diamond Gems
PHILADELPHIA – Jennifer Keller and Jenna Komosinski, the head coaches of the Temple spirit squad which includes the Temple cheerleading team and the Diamond Gems Dance Team have served the Temple community for a combined 19 years. The pair has led both teams to great success, including a third-place finish in the Cheer and Game Day Routine category for the cheerleaders and a ninth-place finish in the Dance Game Day Routine category for the Diamond Gems at the 2023 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading & Dance National Championship earlier this month.
Komosinski, the Head Cheerleading Coach joined the Owl Staff in 2019 after serving as an assistant coach for 5 years. As the head coach, her duties include strength training, technical skill development, game day crowd involvement instruction, and choreography.
A 2009 graduate of West Chester University, Komosinski holds a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a minor in health. Outside of coaching at Temple, Komosinski is currently an elementary health and physical education teacher in Burlington City, N.J. Additionally, Komosinski works for Universal Cheerleaders Association which has helped to enhance her knowledge of sport specific skills, choreography, and judging criteria.
Keller, the Head Coach of the Diamond Gems Dance Team joined the Owl staff in 2013. As head coach, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the training, development and instruction of the Diamond Gems.
In her role, Keller plans and executes practice activities including the development of sport-specific techniques in addition to educating team members on proper safety processes and procedures during practice sessions, games and competition performances.
Keller previously served as the head cheerleading and dance team coach at The College of New Jersey from 2003-13, and as the assistant coach for the University of Delaware dance team from 1998-2000.
In addition to her current part-time work at Temple, Keller works full-time for Aramark in Philadelphia as the Associate Vice President of HR Systems. Keller graduated from Delaware with her bachelor's degree in finance and marketing in 1998.
With your recent success at the National Championships. What has been the key to this success for Temple at the national level?
"I think the key for our success in the game day division has been consistency," Komosinski said. "The athletes work so hard on the execution of the skills and the timing and sync of the motion elements. As a team, we have also tried to be very creative with our choreography, so we stand out from the other competitors. It's a huge accomplishment to be in the mix with such competitive programs from all over the country."
"For us, it's the 3 D's...determination, drive and dedication," Keller said. "Our dance and cheer athletes are passionate about their sport and every year they come back even more energized to surpass their successes from the prior season."
You both have been coaching at Temple for a while now while also juggling your careers in work and education. How challenging has that been?
"It has been very challenging to juggle my professional life as a teacher and my coaching life at Temple," Komosinski said. "I typically go right from school to Temple for practice on the weekdays! It's a lot of long hours and late nights, but it's worth it."
"It is very challenging because at many points throughout the year it is truly 2 full time jobs and we don't have a coaching staff like most sports," Keller said. "It's a lot of late-night practices and weekend planning, but when you are so passionate about something, you make those types of sacrifices."
What is the secret to your success? And how are you able to inspire your squads to greatness?
"I have a great group of athletes that constantly push themselves to be better and they inspire me with their drive," Komosinski said. "I think there is a mutual respect between all of us that motivates the athletes to hold each other accountable. The athletes spend a majority of their season cheering for the other sports teams at Temple so when it is time to focus on their Nationals routine, they really buy in to the process!"
"Having passionate student-athletes, a lot of great friends and mentors in the industry and an extremely supportive husband and family is one of the biggest secrets to success," Keller said. "But I truly believe that the inspiration comes from the team itself. From day 1 of each season, we talk about our team and individual goals, accountability, and open communication. The veteran team members do a great job of setting the tone and as a team. We always say that tomorrow is another opportunity to get better. We end every practice with "3 for the day/night" which is an opportunity for team members to recognize positive contributions or achievements of others in practice, in the classroom or just a simple thank you for someone making their day a little brighter."
What is the thing you love the most about coaching at Temple?
"I love the student-athletes that I have been able to coach at Temple," Komosinski said. "Every year I feel like I learn from them, and we have been able to build the cheer program together! I also love the game day environment at the Linc and inside Liacouras."
"The diverse talent that is drawn to Temple and joins our teams year after year is something that I really love," Keller said. "I think one of the things that makes us so special is that we don't have a team of dancers or cheerleaders who all came from the same high school, studio, or all-star gym. Everyone has their own unique identity while still succeeding in the uniformity of skills and performance."
Komosinski, the Head Cheerleading Coach joined the Owl Staff in 2019 after serving as an assistant coach for 5 years. As the head coach, her duties include strength training, technical skill development, game day crowd involvement instruction, and choreography.
A 2009 graduate of West Chester University, Komosinski holds a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a minor in health. Outside of coaching at Temple, Komosinski is currently an elementary health and physical education teacher in Burlington City, N.J. Additionally, Komosinski works for Universal Cheerleaders Association which has helped to enhance her knowledge of sport specific skills, choreography, and judging criteria.
Keller, the Head Coach of the Diamond Gems Dance Team joined the Owl staff in 2013. As head coach, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the training, development and instruction of the Diamond Gems.
In her role, Keller plans and executes practice activities including the development of sport-specific techniques in addition to educating team members on proper safety processes and procedures during practice sessions, games and competition performances.
Keller previously served as the head cheerleading and dance team coach at The College of New Jersey from 2003-13, and as the assistant coach for the University of Delaware dance team from 1998-2000.
In addition to her current part-time work at Temple, Keller works full-time for Aramark in Philadelphia as the Associate Vice President of HR Systems. Keller graduated from Delaware with her bachelor's degree in finance and marketing in 1998.
With your recent success at the National Championships. What has been the key to this success for Temple at the national level?
"I think the key for our success in the game day division has been consistency," Komosinski said. "The athletes work so hard on the execution of the skills and the timing and sync of the motion elements. As a team, we have also tried to be very creative with our choreography, so we stand out from the other competitors. It's a huge accomplishment to be in the mix with such competitive programs from all over the country."
"For us, it's the 3 D's...determination, drive and dedication," Keller said. "Our dance and cheer athletes are passionate about their sport and every year they come back even more energized to surpass their successes from the prior season."
You both have been coaching at Temple for a while now while also juggling your careers in work and education. How challenging has that been?
"It has been very challenging to juggle my professional life as a teacher and my coaching life at Temple," Komosinski said. "I typically go right from school to Temple for practice on the weekdays! It's a lot of long hours and late nights, but it's worth it."
"It is very challenging because at many points throughout the year it is truly 2 full time jobs and we don't have a coaching staff like most sports," Keller said. "It's a lot of late-night practices and weekend planning, but when you are so passionate about something, you make those types of sacrifices."
What is the secret to your success? And how are you able to inspire your squads to greatness?
"I have a great group of athletes that constantly push themselves to be better and they inspire me with their drive," Komosinski said. "I think there is a mutual respect between all of us that motivates the athletes to hold each other accountable. The athletes spend a majority of their season cheering for the other sports teams at Temple so when it is time to focus on their Nationals routine, they really buy in to the process!"
"Having passionate student-athletes, a lot of great friends and mentors in the industry and an extremely supportive husband and family is one of the biggest secrets to success," Keller said. "But I truly believe that the inspiration comes from the team itself. From day 1 of each season, we talk about our team and individual goals, accountability, and open communication. The veteran team members do a great job of setting the tone and as a team. We always say that tomorrow is another opportunity to get better. We end every practice with "3 for the day/night" which is an opportunity for team members to recognize positive contributions or achievements of others in practice, in the classroom or just a simple thank you for someone making their day a little brighter."
What is the thing you love the most about coaching at Temple?
"I love the student-athletes that I have been able to coach at Temple," Komosinski said. "Every year I feel like I learn from them, and we have been able to build the cheer program together! I also love the game day environment at the Linc and inside Liacouras."
"The diverse talent that is drawn to Temple and joins our teams year after year is something that I really love," Keller said. "I think one of the things that makes us so special is that we don't have a team of dancers or cheerleaders who all came from the same high school, studio, or all-star gym. Everyone has their own unique identity while still succeeding in the uniformity of skills and performance."
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