Temple University Athletics
Keeler Fills Out Strength and Conditioning Staff
2.21.25 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Recently hired Temple head football coach K.C. Keeler announced today that he has completed his strength and conditioning staff. One of his first hires, head strength and conditioning coach Kevin Schadt, helped Keeler with the hires of new assistants Stephen Whitlock, Dan O'Rourke, and C.J. Gildersleeve.
"I am happy to welcome Stephen, Dan and C.J. to the Temple Football family," said Keeler. "I've always said that a big part of the team's culture is built in the weight room and by the strength staff. During the offseason, our student-athletes spend more time with this staff than with the football coaches. Coach Schadt and his staff are here to teach our players to be Temple TUFF."
Stephen Whitlock
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Stephen Whitlock was hired by Temple Football in February 2025 as the associate director of strength and conditioning. He came to Philadelphia after four seasons at Wake Forest as the assistant director of sports performance.
Dan O'Rourke
Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach
Dan O'Rourke was hired by Temple Football in February 2025 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He came to Philadelphia after three seasons in Miami at Florida International University as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
A FIU, O'Rourke assisted with football and was the head strength coach for baseball, and beach volleyball. Prior to his time at FIU, he spent three seasons at Indiana State as a graduate assistant before being promoted to an assistant strength coach.
O'Rourke earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science at Endicott College and then his master's in sports management at Indiana State. Prior to his time at Indiana State, he served internships with the football programs at Boston College, South Carolina, Georgia UMass, and Harvard, where he worked with multiple sports.
O'Rourke is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified through the CSCCa.
C.J. Gildersleeve
Asst. Strength & Conditioning Coach
Cory (C.J.) Gildersleeve Jr. was hired by Temple Football in February 2025 as the assistant strength and conditioning coach. He came to Philadelphia after two seasons at UTEP as a graduate assistant.
At UTEP, Gildersleeve was responsible for assisting with football, while also working with the track and field, softball, men's cheerleading and rifle programs.
A former college football player at Central Michigan, he earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science kinesiology with a minor in psychology. After receiving his bachelor's degree, Gildersleeve began his career in strength and conditioning as an intern with the Philadelphia Eagles during the summer of 2023. He then took an internship opportunity with Ole Miss Football from August to October, 2023.
Gildersleeve is CSCS and CPR/AED certified while also working on obtaining a master's in leadership studies from UTEP.
"I am happy to welcome Stephen, Dan and C.J. to the Temple Football family," said Keeler. "I've always said that a big part of the team's culture is built in the weight room and by the strength staff. During the offseason, our student-athletes spend more time with this staff than with the football coaches. Coach Schadt and his staff are here to teach our players to be Temple TUFF."
Stephen WhitlockAssociate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Stephen Whitlock was hired by Temple Football in February 2025 as the associate director of strength and conditioning. He came to Philadelphia after four seasons at Wake Forest as the assistant director of sports performance.
Prior to Wake Forest, Whitlock worked at Illinois (2019), Rice (2018), North Texas (2017) and Stanford (2017). His first full-time role was at Rice as the assistant strength and conditioning coach. He has worked with a variety of sports including football, golf, lacrosse, swimming, tennis and track.
Whitlock is a 2017 graduate of the University of Indianapolis, where he earned his bachelors in kinesiology. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2017. He is also a USAW Level 1 certified coach.
Whitlock is a 2017 graduate of the University of Indianapolis, where he earned his bachelors in kinesiology. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2017. He is also a USAW Level 1 certified coach.
Dan O'RourkeAsst. Strength & Conditioning Coach
Dan O'Rourke was hired by Temple Football in February 2025 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He came to Philadelphia after three seasons in Miami at Florida International University as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
A FIU, O'Rourke assisted with football and was the head strength coach for baseball, and beach volleyball. Prior to his time at FIU, he spent three seasons at Indiana State as a graduate assistant before being promoted to an assistant strength coach.
O'Rourke earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science at Endicott College and then his master's in sports management at Indiana State. Prior to his time at Indiana State, he served internships with the football programs at Boston College, South Carolina, Georgia UMass, and Harvard, where he worked with multiple sports.
O'Rourke is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified through the CSCCa.
C.J. GildersleeveAsst. Strength & Conditioning Coach
Cory (C.J.) Gildersleeve Jr. was hired by Temple Football in February 2025 as the assistant strength and conditioning coach. He came to Philadelphia after two seasons at UTEP as a graduate assistant.
At UTEP, Gildersleeve was responsible for assisting with football, while also working with the track and field, softball, men's cheerleading and rifle programs.
A former college football player at Central Michigan, he earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science kinesiology with a minor in psychology. After receiving his bachelor's degree, Gildersleeve began his career in strength and conditioning as an intern with the Philadelphia Eagles during the summer of 2023. He then took an internship opportunity with Ole Miss Football from August to October, 2023.
Gildersleeve is CSCS and CPR/AED certified while also working on obtaining a master's in leadership studies from UTEP.
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