Temple tabs K.C. Keeler to rebuild program

Field Level Media|published: Sun 1st December, 19:22 2024

NCAA Football: Sam Houston State at Texas A&M

Sep 3, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Sam Houston State Bearkats head coach K.C. Keeler watches warm ups prior to the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Temple hired K.C. Keeler as its new coach on Sunday.

Keeler led Sam Houston State to a 9-3 overall mark and 6-2 in Conference USA play this season in the school's second campaign at the FBS level.

"Coach Keeler has a track record of evaluating, recruiting and developing student-athletes into championship-level young men," Temple athletic director Arthur Johnson said in a statement. "His leadership, experience and the culture he establishes within programs are exactly what Temple football needs as we look to return to prominence in the competitive college football landscape."

Overall, Keeler was 97-39 in 11 seasons at Sam Houston. His squad went 10-0 in the shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19 and won the FCS national championship.

Keeler, 65, also won a national championship in 2003 during an 11-year stint (2002-12) at Delaware. One of the players he coached during his time with the Blue Hens was Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco.

"I am beyond thrilled to be named Temple University's next head football coach," Keeler, a native of Emmaus, Pa., said in the news release. "I would like to thank Arthur Johnson and President John Fry for this incredible opportunity. Their shared vision and enthusiasm for returning this program to greatness has been contagious. I'm eager to get to work to bring that vision to fruition for the Cherry and the White. It's a perfect fit and it feels great to be coming back home!"

Flacco is looking forward to seeing how his former coach fares with the Owls.

"Coach Keeler took a chance on me 20 years ago and I'll never forget that," Flacco said in the news release. "I couldn't be more excited for him and his family. If you're an Owls fan, I'd be excited. He has been a winner everywhere he's been."

Keeler will replace Stan Drayton, who went 9-25 in three seasons before being fired last month. Defensive coordinator Everett Withers coached the final two games -- both losses -- as Temple finished 3-9 overall and 2-6 in American Athletic Conference play.

--Field Level Media