HIRAM, Ohio – December 13, 2024 – Hiram Athletics announced the hiring of Xavier Dupree as the 33rd head coach in the history of the Terriers football program on Friday afternoon. Dupree most recently spent two seasons as the wide receivers coach at Catawba College (NCAA Division II | Salisbury, NC) and brings seven years of coaching experience between the Division I, II and III levels.

"Xavier impressed our administration throughout the interview process and proved he was the best fit for our football program moving forward," said Scott Pohlman, Hiram's Director of Athletics. "In working with Xavier in the past, I think highly of his ability to lead and connect with student-athletes. I look forward to seeing him lead our student-athletes to success on the field and in the classroom before graduating from Hiram College."

Prior to Catawba, Dupree served as the wide receivers coach at Hiram from 2020 to the spring of 2023, elevating a position group that featured one of the best pass-catchers in the history of the program in Raequan Davis-Hereford. As a team, Hiram averaged over 13 yards per reception under Dupree in 2021 and followed it up with over 2,100 receiving yards in 2022 – those marks ranked sixth and fifth respectively in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Dupree was also instrumental in the improvement of Hiram College's strength and conditioning program for a multitude of varsity sports. Following his winter lifting program in 2022, Hiram student-athletes had over 3,000lbs of improvement between bench press, squats and power cleans.

"I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing me with this opportunity," Dupree said. "I would like to thank President Robert Bohrer and Scott Pohlman for trusting me with leading this program into this new era of Hiram College Football. The mission is to bring an exciting, fast and physical brand of football to Hiram while winning in the classroom and in the community as well. I can't wait to Ring the Bell after a Terriers win!"

In 2019, Dupree played a key role as the football strength and conditioning intern at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. He assisted with all areas of athletic performance at the Division I level, which included nutrition, sports science and strength and conditioning. He organized and led weekly workouts for the program's developmental players and helped facilitate the day-to-day operations of the school's performance facility.

Dupree was also a Division I student-athlete at Middle Tennessee State (Murfreesboro, TN) as a wide receiver. Following his playing career, he served as a student coach with the program alongside wide receivers coach Austin Silvoy. In the spring of 2019, Dupree earned his degree in Multimedia Journalism from Middle Tennessee State along with a minor in Athletic Coaching.

Hiram College Football will now look forward to the 2025 season, with Dupree leading the Terriers in their return to the Presidents' Athletic Conference for the first time since 1989. Opening kickoff is slated for the first week of September against Heidelberg.