Matt Rhule may be the perfect person to take Temple to the next level of collegiate football. He has spent most of his 14 years as an assistant collegiate coach with Temple, where he was a key part of Al Golden's resurrection of Owl football.
In announcing the hiring of Rhule on December 17, Temple's Director of Athletics Bil Bradshaw said, "We had a diverse and talented pool of candidates and an overwhelming amount of interest in the Temple football head coaching position, but one person distinguished himself from the rest - Matt Rhule. Matt is the perfect person to take the Temple football program to the next level. He is an outstanding recruiter and in his six years at Temple was responsible for bringing many of the players that helped the program win its first bowl in 32 years. He is one of the top young minds in the profession, and has a total understanding of the game. And clearly he is someone who loves Temple, and is already ingrained into the Temple community."
Rhule returns to Temple as the Owls 26th head coach after spending a year as the assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants. During his previous tenure at Temple, the role of the 37-year-old State College native changed several times since his original hiring by Golden in 2006 to coach the defensive live. He also served asthe quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2006 and 2007 seasons when Temple's recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the MAC. In the spring of 2008 he was promoted to offensive coordinator while continuing to coach quarterbacks and remained ni that position until 2011, Coach Steve Addazio reassigned him as assistant offensive coordinator, tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator.
Rhule was a four-year walk-on at Penn State and became a three-time Penn State scholar-athlete, earning Academic Al-Big Ten honors ni 1997. Prior to Temple, Rhule had coached at Albright, Buffalo, UCLA and Western Carolina.
"It is with tremendous pride and anticipation for the future that my family and I are coming home to Temple University," said when he accepted the position. "I am honored and thankful that Bil Bradshaw (and Temple's presidents) have entrusted me with the privilege to serve Temple as its head football coach, and Iam impressed with their vision for the future. I had the privilege of spending six wonderful seasons at Temple University in a myriad of roles, and it was during that time that I realized Temple was home. When the opportunity came to return and serve the Temple student-athletes and the greater University community as a whole; I knew it was right. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and look forward to continuing the program's upward momentum as a member of the BIG EAST Conference."
Golden, now the head coach at Miami, had high praise for his former colleague. "What a great day for Matt and Julie Rhule and the Temple Owls' Family! Coach Rhule was on the front line of the transformation that lead to three straight 8+ winning seasons, two bowl games, the longest winning streak ni school history and the 2011 New Mexico Bowl championship. Matt will bring stability and continuity to the Temple Owls and will provide leadership and vision in the Delaware Valley for years to come."
- This biography was adapted from a article on the Temple University Football website.
Thanks to Lou Prato for the bio information.