Al Golden recently completed his third season as head football coach at Temple University. The Colts Neck, N.J. native was named the Owls' 24th head football coach on December 6, 2005, after spending the prior five seasons as defensive coordinator at the University of Virginia. The 39-year old Golden is the fifth-youngest head coach in college football's bowl subdivision.

During his second season, Golden once again played the nation's most true freshmen (20) and started the nation's most true freshmen (12). He led the Owls to a 4-8 overall record and a 4-4 mark during their inaugural season in the Mid-American Conference.

Along the way, TU won three consecutive games. The fourth win tied Temple's mark for the most conference wins since 1967. Led by All-MAC players DT Andre Neblett and DB Dominique Harris, the Cherry & White defense led the MAC in total defense, red zone defense, and pass defense. The Owls' red zone defense ranked first nationally.

In his first campaign in Owl Country, Golden played 2 true freshmen, the most in the nation, against the third most difficult schedule in the country. Only national champion Florida (10) and Stanford(9) played more bowl participants during the regular season than the Owls, who competed against eight teams that earned postseason berths. Thirty-eight players saw their first major college foot-ball action under Golden in 2006, including 27 freshmen.

Golden captured his first victory at the helm when the Owls defeated Bowling Green, 28- 14, at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 28, 2006. The win was the largest accomplishment for the Owls on the field, but a multitude of goals were achieved of the field during Golden's initial campaign. Temple unveiled the most comprehensive academic support team ni the Mid-American Conference and teamed with Adidas as the team's official outfitter. The program was also successful in assembling a regional, nonconference schedule for years to come.

Recruiting has also been a tremendous success under Golden's leadership. His initial signing class in 2006 was rated best in the MAC by CollegeFootballNews.com, while the 2007 and 2008 classes earned top honors in the league from Scout.com.

With a commitment to community service and academics at the core of Golden's program, a multitude of individual honors were bestowed upon the Owls in 2006. Seven student-athletes were named to the 2006 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Football team, providing Temple the most honorees of the 10 Delaware Valley institutions that sponsor football. Three players were named to the 2006 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I-A Football All-Star Team, marking the most for the Owls on the ECAC squad since a trio also earned recognition in 1997.

In addition, three student-athletes were named honorable mention freshman All-Americans by The Sporting News. It signaled the largest number of rookies to receive national recognition in program history.

Golden was named the youngest defensive coordinator in Division I-A by Virginia head coach Al Groh in January 2001 after spending the previous season at his alma mater, serving as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator under Joe Paterno. From 2001 to 2004, the Cavaliers' defense improved under his tutelage, ranking 108th in total defense in his first year to ranking 18th in total defense in 2004. In the same time period, Virginia's scoring defense went from 74th in the nation (27.6 ppg) to 17th (17.7 ppg) utilizing Golden's 3-4 scheme.

Golden was a three-year (1989-91) letter winner and two-year starter at tight end for Penn State, where he received the1991 Ridge Riley Award, given annually to a player who displays excellence in scholarship, sportsmanship, friendship and leadership. As a junior in 1990,Golden played a key role in Penn State's nationally-televised 24-21 upset of No. 1-ranked Notre Dame at South Bend. His touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter tied the score at 21 as Penn State rallied from a 21-7 deficit. Golden captained the Nittany Lions his senior year and helped lead them to a 42-17 win over Tennessee in the 1992 Fiesta Bowl. Following that victory, Penn State finished with an 11-2 record and ranked third in the nation in the final 1991 AP poll.

After his tenure as a player in State College, Golden spent one season in the NFL with the New England Patriots.

Golden, born July 4, 1969, earned his undergraduate degree in pre-law from Penn State in 1991 before receiving his master's in sports psychology from Virginia in December, 1996.

A 2004 inductee of the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame, he is married to the former Kelly Elizabeth Hanna of Lock Haven, Pa. The couple have a four year-old son named AJ (7/15/05) and a two-year-old daughter named Addison (11/7/06).