5 Questions with Francis J. Dunphy

By Katharine Gilbert

Recently we reached out to Temple University Athletics Director Fran Dunphy to find out how he is coping with Covid-19 challenges. How does his success as a coach translate into the management of 19 varsity sports in this era of Covid-19.

1It was rumored that you were going to be a coach with the Sixers and then the Temple University Athletics Director post was announced. Any truth to those rumors and how did you decide on the AD post at Temple?

I can’t say that I heard those rumors about coaching with the Sixers but I love the Sixers and I hope that they have a fantastic season every year. I’m a diehard Philly Sports fan and I want all of our teams to be successful.

As far as deciding on the AD position at Temple, I didn’t decide on Temple they decided on me. They asked me to be interested in the interim/acting position and I said “yes” because that’s what I do. I feel when we are asked to serve, we need to serve. It’s an honor to be asked. I will serve to the best of my abilities.

2Were you involved with students and athletes last March when the pandemic closed competitions? How did you respond to the uncertainty for your students?

I was helping to teach a management class at Temple last March, when we went from an In-person class to online class with “Zoom”.  I was very impressed with the transition that Professor Stuhl and the students made in adjusting to the different environment online.

We had spirited discussions and we spoke often about making our class the very best it could be even though we were not live and in-person. I was feeling for the students and how unfair the situation was.  We spoke about this being a difficult time in our lives, but if this was the worst thing they had to deal with, that they would live a very fulfilling and happy life. We spoke of how fortunate we were to be healthy at this time but also to be available to friends and family who were affected adversely by Covid.

1 First coach to lead two Big Five Basketball programs: Penn and Temple
2 Among the top three Coaches in most wins ever at Temple
3 Considered among finest basketball coaches in Ivy League history
4 Voted Coach of the Year in the Atlantic 10 Conference: 2010 , 2012, 2015 and 2016
5 Most wins coach in Big Five history

3Now that you are responsible for 19 sports, how are you managing this “new normal” for all of the coaches and their teams? How do you supervise the different attitudes and goals of each of the teams?

I’m very fortunate to have an experienced staff and coaches group who go about their jobs in a professional manner. We speak often of taking good care of the student athletes and the mental approach that they need to have, to overcome the adversity that they face.

For the most part the goals are all the same. We want to provide the best experience for the student athletes and attempt to enhance their careers in the best way possible.

4Is the American Athletic Conference setting its own strategy for dealing with Covid-19 or adhering to NCAA guidelines. Thinking about the latest decision by Big Ten regarding football, which appeared to be independent of NCAA guidance. Do the American Athletic Conference ADs have Zoom meetings regarding the covid-19 impact? Is there consensus as to planning for Football and other fall, winter, and spring sports?

The AAC as well as all other conferences pretty much have been given the independence to chart their own path by the NCAA. The conference AD’s have many Zoom meetings throughout the week with our conference schools as well as checking in with other conferences as far as best practices are concerned.

AD’s also have many Zooms with upper level administration as well as coaches from all sports. Other than football, all other fall sports have agreed to move to the spring for their competition. Hopefully Football will be played in a healthy and safe manner.

5What is your view on resumption of classes, practices, and competitions at Temple. With some Universities cutting sports as a result of financial impact of Covid-19, how do you see the future of Division 1 College athletics at Temple and in your conference.

At Temple we started off having 25 to 30 percent in-person classes but due to pandemic concerns, we have moved to almost all virtual classes. Zoom has been a vehicle to instruct these days. While it isn’t ideal, I’m grateful to be able to see our students’ faces and have a sufficient degree of dialogue. I don’t believe that Temple or other conference schools will be dropping sports. I’m hopeful we can make the necessary advancements in medicine that we will have healthy seasons in the very near future. We’re all concerned for health and safety as we fight this virus.

In 2019 Fran Dunphy was honored as a recipient of the Gene Barstow Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions to the Game