Staff Directory
Keller, D'Ann
D'Ann Keller
- Title:
- Deputy Director of Athletics, Admin/SWA
(Sport Supervisor: Women's Soccer, Women's Basketball)
- Email:
- Phone:
- 716-645-6866
- Pronoun:
- She/Her/Hers
D'Ann Keller is a seasoned athletics administrator with over 20 years of experience across campus, conference, and national office levels. In September 2019 Keller joined the UB Athletics Department as Senior Associate Athletics Director/SWA and was promoted to Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA in February 2024. Keller is known for her collaborative leadership style, fostering a positive staff culture, and driving departmental success. She is deeply committed to creating a supportive environment for student-athletes, ensuring meaningful academic and athletic experiences.
At UB, Keller's responsibilities are broad and impactful. She manages a 16-sport administrator team, with direct oversight of women’s basketball and soccer, providing leadership in recruiting, game contracts, personnel management, budgeting, fundraising, and student-athlete success. She also oversees sports medicine, Olympic sports performance, and mental wellness services, ensuring that student-athletes receive necessary support for their mental and physical well-being while optimizing their athletic performance and reducing injury potential.
As a member of the Executive Team, Keller works closely with the Vice President/Athletics Director on strategic planning and policy development. She represents the University at all MAC and NCAA meetings as the SWA and serves as the primary contact for issues related to Title IX, diversity, equity, and inclusion, handling these matters with care and discretion.
Keller also oversees events and facility staff, managing daily operations, repairs, renovations, and event coordination. She is responsible for developing and implementing plans for athletic venues, including major projects like the renovation of basketball locker rooms and the construction of a new sports performance center. Additionally, Keller leads efforts to create a consistent graphic and branding design process for the Athletics department.
Among her notable initiatives, Keller launched the UB Refueling Station in 2022, providing essential nutrition for student-athletes. She established a mental health partnership with H3H and co-leads the Stronger Together Task Force, focusing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives. Under her leadership, the Athletics department has won the MAC Institutional Diversity Award four times.
Keller serves as a liaison to various campus partners, including Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Title IX), Student Conduct and Advocacy, Legal Counsel, University Police, Counseling Services, and Health Promotions. She plays a critical role in the hiring process, serving on committees for assistant coaches, staff, and assisting in searches for Head Coaches in Football, Men’s Basketball, and Wrestling. Notably, she led the search for the Head Coach for Women’s Basketball.
Before joining UB, Keller was the Associate Athletics Director at Saint Louis University (SLU), where she provided strategic leadership and oversaw sports teams, marketing, promotions, and gameday operations. She played a key role in SLU’s rebranding efforts and managed athletic fields and facilities.
Earlier in her career, Keller served as Associate Director of Championships & Alliances at the NCAA, where she managed the overall operations of various national championship such as the Men’s College Cup, National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics, DI Women’s Lacrosse and many more. She was instrumental in the creation of the NCAA national soccer officiating assigning program and provided leadership on NCAA policies and communicated effectively with administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and other constituents.
Keller holds a Master of Science in Higher Education from Butler University, a Master of Arts in Physical Education with emphasis in sport administration and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Ball State University.
D'Ann Keller is proud of her three adult children, Hayden, Gabby, and Garrett, along with her three grandchildren, Olivia, Rowan, and Sage.
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At UB, Keller's responsibilities are broad and impactful. She manages a 16-sport administrator team, with direct oversight of women’s basketball and soccer, providing leadership in recruiting, game contracts, personnel management, budgeting, fundraising, and student-athlete success. She also oversees sports medicine, Olympic sports performance, and mental wellness services, ensuring that student-athletes receive necessary support for their mental and physical well-being while optimizing their athletic performance and reducing injury potential.
As a member of the Executive Team, Keller works closely with the Vice President/Athletics Director on strategic planning and policy development. She represents the University at all MAC and NCAA meetings as the SWA and serves as the primary contact for issues related to Title IX, diversity, equity, and inclusion, handling these matters with care and discretion.
Keller also oversees events and facility staff, managing daily operations, repairs, renovations, and event coordination. She is responsible for developing and implementing plans for athletic venues, including major projects like the renovation of basketball locker rooms and the construction of a new sports performance center. Additionally, Keller leads efforts to create a consistent graphic and branding design process for the Athletics department.
Among her notable initiatives, Keller launched the UB Refueling Station in 2022, providing essential nutrition for student-athletes. She established a mental health partnership with H3H and co-leads the Stronger Together Task Force, focusing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives. Under her leadership, the Athletics department has won the MAC Institutional Diversity Award four times.
Keller serves as a liaison to various campus partners, including Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Title IX), Student Conduct and Advocacy, Legal Counsel, University Police, Counseling Services, and Health Promotions. She plays a critical role in the hiring process, serving on committees for assistant coaches, staff, and assisting in searches for Head Coaches in Football, Men’s Basketball, and Wrestling. Notably, she led the search for the Head Coach for Women’s Basketball.
Before joining UB, Keller was the Associate Athletics Director at Saint Louis University (SLU), where she provided strategic leadership and oversaw sports teams, marketing, promotions, and gameday operations. She played a key role in SLU’s rebranding efforts and managed athletic fields and facilities.
Earlier in her career, Keller served as Associate Director of Championships & Alliances at the NCAA, where she managed the overall operations of various national championship such as the Men’s College Cup, National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics, DI Women’s Lacrosse and many more. She was instrumental in the creation of the NCAA national soccer officiating assigning program and provided leadership on NCAA policies and communicated effectively with administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and other constituents.
Keller holds a Master of Science in Higher Education from Butler University, a Master of Arts in Physical Education with emphasis in sport administration and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Ball State University.
D'Ann Keller is proud of her three adult children, Hayden, Gabby, and Garrett, along with her three grandchildren, Olivia, Rowan, and Sage.
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