University of Indianapolis Men's Football

Chris Keevers has established the University of Indianapolis as one of NCAA Division II football’s most consistent championship programs since becoming head coach in 2019, continuing a decades-long influence on Greyhound football that began when he joined the staff in 1994. Under Keevers, UIndy has captured five Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) championships, including an active streak of four consecutive titles, while maintaining a national presence and sustained postseason success.   The 2025 season stands as arguably the finest in program history. Indianapolis finished No. 10 in the final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll—the highest final ranking the program has ever achieved—after matching a school record with 11 victories. The Greyhounds recorded multiple milestones, including their first fourth-straight playoff appearance, first second-round home playoff game, and first Harlon Hill Trophy finalist.   Keevers’ teams have paired championship results with elite roster production. That same season produced 26 All-GLVC selections, four All-Super Region 3 honorees, and two First-Team All-Americans, underscoring the program’s national footprint.   The momentum was built the year prior when Keevers guided Indianapolis to a 10-2 record, perfect 8-0 conference mark, GLVC championship and AFCA No. 14 national ranking, earning conference Coach of the Year honors while mentoring major award winners on both sides of the ball.   Among the program’s premier player-development stories is linebacker Clay Schulte, who captured both Super Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year and GLVC Defensive Player of the Year honors before being named AFCA First-Team All-America after a 100-tackle senior campaign.   Quarterback Gavin Sukup emerged as another national figure, becoming the program’s first-ever Harlon Hill finalist while helping power one of the most successful seasons in school history.   Keevers’ leadership has consistently translated into conference-wide recognition. In 2023, he was voted GLVC Coach of the Year after directing a 9–2 squad to the league title, a national ranking, and an NCAA playoff berth while guiding 22 players to all-conference honors, including 14 first-team selections. His overall head coaching record sits at 58-14—the best winning percentage in program history—further reflecting the stability and competitive standard that now define UIndy football.   Yet Keevers’ impact on the Greyhounds extends well beyond his head coaching tenure. Prior to taking over the program, he served in numerous roles—including 12 seasons as defensive coordinator—helping lay the foundation for a championship culture that has produced double-digit win seasons and regular postseason appearances.   Since the GLVC began sponsoring football, Keevers has been part of 11 conference championship teams, illustrating a rare blend of longevity and sustained excellence within one program. Before Indianapolis, Keevers coached defensive line, special teams, and strength & conditioning at Saint Mary’s College (Calif.) and began his coaching career at Purdue—his alma mater—as a graduate and student assistant.   A former defensive lineman, Keevers started his collegiate playing career at Coffeyville Community College before transferring to Purdue University, where he became a two-year starter and competed alongside future Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.   An Indianapolis native and graduate of John Marshall High School, Keevers earned both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Purdue. He and his wife, Alexis, have four children. RECORD AT UINDY OVERALL GLVC YEAR W L PCT W L PCT MISC 2019 9 2 .818 6 1 .857 NCAA playoff appearance 2020-21 3 0 1.000 2 0 1.000 GLVC champs, GLVC Coach of the Year 2021 7 4 .636 5 2 .714 2022 9 2 .818 6 0 1.000 GLVC champs, playoff appearance GLVC Co-Coach of the Year 2023 9 2 .818 6 1 .857 GLVC champs, playoff appearance GLVC Coach of the Year 2024 10 2 .833 8 0 1.000 GLVC champs, playoff appearance GLVC Coach of the Year 2025 11 2 .846 8 0 1.000 GLVC champs, 2nd rd playoff appearance TOTAL 58 14 .783 41 4 .911 * minimum three years as UIndy head coach

Rahju Blackmon came to UIndy in the spring of 2023, taking over as the Defensive Line Coach. He stepped into the Co-Defensive coordinator role prior to the 2024 campaign.   Blackmon has helped lead the Greyhounds to a GLVC title and an NCAA DII playoff appearance both seasons he has been on staff. As a DC in 2024, he helped the hounds rank sixth in Division II in red zone defense, 19th in scoring defense, 20th in total defense and 22nd in tackles for a loss. He also mentioned three All-GLVC First Team defensive lineman in 2023 and three more all-conference d-linemen in ’24. Prior to coming to UIndy, Blackmon spent four seasons at the University of Saint Francis in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind. He joined the USF in staff in the fall of 2019 as an Offensive Assistant, mainly working with the offensive line and running backs. He served as the defensive line and special teams coordinator the next two seasons before being promoted to Co-Defensive Coordinator in February of 2022. That fall, the Cougars surrendered less than 20 points per game, ranking third in the MSFA in passing yards allowed and second in interceptions. Prior to USF, Blackmon was a student assistant at his alma mater, Grand Valley State, in the spring of 2019 following his senior season. During that time, he assisted with coaching linebackers. As a student-athlete at DII-power GVSU, Blackmon played linebacker from 2014-2018. The Lakers won a GLIAC title (2016) and made three playoff appearances in his time on the gridiron, including a run to the national semifinal game in '15. He was named a team captain as a senior, as the Lakers went on to earn a 10-2 record and another playoff berth. Rahju graduated in the spring of 2019 with his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. He earned his master's in Organization Leadership from the USF in 2023.

John Bivens joined the Greyhound staff in the fall of 2024 to lead the running backs. The Kettering, Ohio native came to UIndy after spending the previous spring at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska. In his first season with the Greyhounds, Bivens helped lead the team to 10 wins on the way to a GLVC title and an NCAA DII playoff appearance. UIndy ranked 11th in scoring offense, 12th in total offense and 17th in rushing offense. Meanwhile, Bivens mentored All-GLVC First Team running back Jon Lewis, who racked up nearly 1,200 rushing yards and grabbed a spot in the top five in the program's single-season rushing list.   Prior to coming to UIndy, Bivens was the assistant running backs coach at Nebraska in the spring of ’24 after coaching the RBs and defensive backs at nearby Lincoln High School in the fall of ’23.   He was once the top-rated running back as a high schooler in Ohio, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry as a junior at Archbishop Alter before injury struck. Bivens would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Nebraska in the spring of 2024.

Jeff Bowens became the Greyhound Cornerback Coach in the fall of 2025. A native of Detroit, he played three seasons at Illinois State before spending his final year playing under former UIndy defensive coordinator Tim Cooper at Gardner Webb. In all, Bowens was a three-year starter and had 131 career tackles, 16 pass deflections and three interceptions.

Carter Hendricks joined UIndy in 2025 to work with the tight ends. He came to the Circle City from his alma mater and perennial-power Grand Valley State. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native spent five years as an undergraduate assistant with the Lakers, including two as the team's video coordinator. After earning Dean's List inclusion numerous times and later a bachelor's degree in the spring of 2023, he assumed the Offensive Graduate Assistant position before being promoted to Senior Grad Assistant in '24. During his time at Grand Valley, Hendricks worked with the wide receivers and quarterbacks among other duties, while also leading the defensive scout team each of the last two seasons.

Robert Burke joined the Greyhound Family in 2023, taking over the position of Wide Receivers Coach. Burke came to UIndy after spending time on staff at three DI programs. Burke helped lead the team to a GLVC title and an NCAA DII playoff appearance each of his first two seasons on staff. In 2024, the Hounds recorded their fourth-ever 10-win campaign, with Burke mentioning a trio of all-conference receivers.   Burke spent the spring of ’23 at Northern Illinois as an Offensive Graduate Assistant after spending a calendar year at Austin Peay as the Offensive Quality Control/Assistant WR Coach. He garnered experience across a number of disciplines, including scouting, recruiting, practice scripting and academic monitoring, to name a few.   After a five-year playing career at Samford, he spent to 2021 season as Offensive Quality Control/Assistant WR/TE Coach at his alma mater. He helped the Samford OC with film, position, and recruiting breakdown; and also helped coach 2022 NFL draft pick Montrell Washington.   As a student-athlete, Burke was voted “Hype Man 2019” and “Mr. Bulldog 2020” by his teammates and coaches and was twice voted gameday captain as a senior. He graduated cum laude from Samford with a bachelor’s in Sports Administration.

Tommy Gerhard joined the Greyhound family in 2024, taking over as the UIndy Offensive Line Coach. Gerhard spent the previous season working with both the offensive line and tight ends at Upper Iowa University. In his first season with the Greyhounds, Gerhard helped lead the team to 10 wins on the way to a GLVC title and an NCAA DII playoff appearance. All five of the UIndy's starting o-linemen garnered All-GLVC recognition, including three first-team nods. Gerhard spent the 2023 season at GLVC-opponent Upper Iowa, where he coached All-American Eddie Burgess (TE) and All-GLVC performer Tyler Nielsen (OL). He helped Upper Iowa’s offense, doubling their rushing yards per attempt and net rushing yards from the previous season. Prior to Upper Iowa, Gerhard served as a Graduate Assistant at Georgia Tech for one season, working with the tight ends and offensive coordinator Chip Long. He arrived at Georgia Tech from Tulane University in 2021, where he was a Graduate Assistant working with the offensive line under Chris Watt and offensive coordinator Chip Long. Prior to Tulane, Gerhard served as a Graduate Assistant for two seasons at Miami (OH), where he worked directly under co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach George Barnett and helped lead the Redhawks to the 2019 Mid-American Conference Championship. As a student-athlete at Wittenberg University, Gerhard played offensive line from 2015-2018. Gerhard was a team captain and all-conference offensive lineman, leading the Tigers to three conference championships and two playoff appearances in his four-year career. He graduated with an overall record of 37-6 and in the spring of 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing. A Dayton, Ohio native, Gerhard graduated from Archbishop Alter in 2015.