Temple and Rod Carey are reportedly close to a deal that will make Carey the new head football coach for the Owls.
Carey, who coached Northern Illinois (NIU) to two Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships in six seasons, is expected to be officially announced as the head coach this Friday.
Ever since Geoff Collins resigned on Dec. 7 to take the head coaching job at Georgia Tech, the Owl’s football program has been dealt multiple blows. Manny Diaz was announced as the school’s next football coach on Dec. 12, but resigned on Dec. 30 and took the University of Miami head coaching job following Mark Richt’s retirement. Diaz was originally the defensive coordinator for the Hurricanes.
Just two days before Diaz’s resignation, the Owl’s were dismantled by the Duke Blue Devils by a score of 56-27 in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl.
Carey finished with a record of 52-30 in six seasons at NIU and appeared in four MAC title games. His teams finished with a 38-10 record in conferenc
e play and reached six bowl games in his seven years, failing to win a single one. In the MAC title game this year, NIU defeated Buffalo 30-29 and finished the season 8-6.
Carey, unlike past Temple coaches, has mostly focused on offense in his coaching career.
He was the offensive coordinator and offensive-line coach at Wisconsin-Stout for six years from 2000-2006, then moved on to Illinois State in 2007 as their offensive-line coach. From 2008-2010 Carey coached the offensive line at North Dakota, then took over at NIU in 2011 in the same position. In 2012, he was promoted to the offensive line coach/running game coordinator. He took over as the head coach in 2012 before NIU played in the Orange Bowl.
Wisconsin offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Joe Rudolph and Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton were said to be in the running for the Owl’s head job before news about Carey was announced tonight.
Carey will have plenty to work with on the offensive line as veterans Matt Hennessy, Isaac Moore, Jovahn Fair and Vincent Picozzi are all returning for next season.
For now though, Owl’s fans will hold their breath to see if Carey will stick around for the long run.
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