Houston Chronicle and Hearst Newspapers Spotlight Kelly Damphousse, a Former Correctional Officer Who Transformed a University.

Correctional officers rarely make national headlines unless there’s a crisis. But Dr. Kelly Damphousse, now president of Texas State University, is drawing attention for leading the school to one of the most improbable achievements in college athletics.

Under his leadership, Texas State secured a spot in the Pac-12 Conference, a historic leap for a program that was not even in Division I until 2012 and had played its first bowl game just two years prior.

The Houston Chronicle recently profiled Dr. Damphousse and his unusual journey from working in corrections to leading the 24th-largest university in the US, which has now joined the most decorated conference in athletics.

From Corrections to Campus Leadership

In 1982, Damphousse graduated from Lethbridge Community College in Canada with an associate degree in law enforcement. After a failed tryout dashed his hopes of becoming an NHL goalie, he set his sights on joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

First, he spent three years working as a corrections officer in Alberta, at Peace River Correctional Center and then at Lethbridge Correctional Center, before moving to Texas to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a specialization in law enforcement and police science.

He later went on to graduate school, earning a master's and Ph.D. in sociology from Texas A&M.

Damphousse told the Houston Chronicle that his years as a correctional officer not only toughened him up, but they also taught him lasting lessons about empathy.

One of the guards once told me you might think you’re better than these people here, but these are human beings,” Damphousse said. “He taught me about empathy and the value of respecting other people. And I toughened up a lot.”

He also reflected on the unpredictable pace of life inside a correctional facility.

“You know, working in a prison, I always say, is hours and hours of boredom highlighted by seconds and moments of terror,” he said.

Bobcats on the Rise

The Bobcats’ football program was once dominant at the Division II level. But before hiring current coach G.J. Kinne, Texas State posted a 20–64 record over seven seasons. With growing investment as a result of the move, the Bobcats are now preparing for competition on a national stage when they formally join the Pac-12 in July 2026.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould on June 30.

It is a new day in college sports, and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today’s landscape with student-athletes in mind. Under great leadership from Dr. Kelly Damphousse, Don Coryell, and excellent head coaches, Texas State has shown a commitment to competing and winning at the highest level as well as to providing student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience academically, athletically, and socially. We look forward to seeing the Bobcats’ future trajectory continue to shine big and bright.”

Damphousse said:

This is a historic moment for TXST and Bobcat Athletics. Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move—it is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country. Our acceptance into the Pac-12 affirms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a TXST degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that defines this institution.”

“It Will Not Be Easy”

Wrapping up the monthslong process brought a sense of relief, he told the Austin American-Statesman, after “using up every little resource I have.” He must have felt like the dog who caught the car, exhilarated to have secured the most significant move in Texas State’s athletic history. Fortunately, Damphousse’s years as a corrections officer had trained him for times like this, teaching him how to remain steady, operate under pressure, and persevere even when the job was psychologically draining.

The Bobcats haven’t won a football conference title since 2008, but some are picking them to win the Sun Belt this coming fall.

“It will not be easy,” Damphousse told the Houston Chronicle. “We did this to raise our national profile, and our fan base is over the moon. But we’re not going to be a warm body. We want to win the championships.”