10 Days Later, Temple Still Searching for A Head Coach

After a disappointing 2022-23 season, Aaron McKie is no longer head coach and AD Arthur Johnson is conducting a national search to save Temple Basketball. Several Owls entered the transfer portal with some leaving Temple as an option, depending on who the new coach is. The rumor mill has been full of interesting names but some of them make zero sense. Here is what I know/heard so far…

Who will NOT coach Temple?

Matt Langel: He was an assistant coach for Fran Dunphy for years and the Owls were successful with him on the bench. He left in 2011 to coach Colgate and has been successful in the Patriot League. I think he would be a very good hire but according to CBS Sports, Temple is not pursuing Langel.

Per CBS Sports, Temple is not pursuing Matt Langel to be the new coach. pic.twitter.com/Z0V3UCCCoe

— We Give A Hoot TU (@WeGiveAHootTU) March 22, 2023

Sam Cassell: Hoops Hype’s Mike Scotto reported Sixers assistant coach Sam Cassell has drawn interest from Temple University for its head coaching job. I don’t believe Temple wants another former 76ers assistant coach. Not happening

Dawn Staley: I honestly like this idea, but she makes more money at USC. She also would likely have to finish the season at South Carolina before accepting the job and Temple can’t afford to wait that long. Not happening

Kim English: Someone I wanted but he is going to Providence. Temple never reached out.

Brusier Flint: No, No, No. Not interested in a guy who resigned from UMass and was fired from Drexel after failing to make the NCAA tournament in 15 seasons.

Who do I think Temple is considering at this time?

Rodney Terry: I had to do some research on the interim Texas head coach and he has quite the resume. Terry has head coaching experience at Fresno State and UTEP and holds a 184-163 career record. He left UTEP in 2021 to be an assistant coach under Chris Beard. Once the Longhorns season is over, could he receive an offer to coach the Owls? Texas could also be warming up to the idea of making Terry the permanent coach, especially if the Longhorns continue to advance in the tournament.

Adam Fisher: He is the current Assistant Coach at Penn State but Shrewsberry left to become the new head coach at Notre Dame. A good recruiter from the Philly area who helped Miami land Lonnie Walker and Isaiah Wong.

Source: Notre Dame is set to hire Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry to the same position. The Indiana native returns to the Hoosier State, after taking the Nittany Lions to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 12 years.

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) March 22, 2023

Pat Chambers: To be clear, I wasn’t a fan of him when he was at Penn State but it could be because he recruited the Philly area very well. He was able to convince local talent to go to Happy Valley, but also struggled to win with that talent.

Who Should Coach Temple?

The longer we wait, the tougher it is to build a team in transfer portal so Temple needs to make a decision soon.

I’m rooting for Xavier to beat Texas and we hire Terry Friday night.

UPDATE AT 5PM

Hearing the same names for Temple from several directions: Adam Fisher, Pat Chambers, Karl Hobbs. Also heard maybe Nolan Smith, Bruiser Flint.

— Mike Jensen (@jensenoffcampus) March 23, 2023