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Matt Rhule to be named Baylor head coach

By Sam Mire

Oct 31, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Temple Owls head coach Matt Rhule reacts after a fumble by quarterback P.J. Walker (11) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Temple Owls head coach Matt Rhule reacts after a fumble by quarterback P.J. Walker (11) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Matt Rhule has continued the trend of Temple head coaches being named to more prominent positions, with Baylor being reported as his new home.

Ever since Al Golden was hired by the University of Miami in December of 2010, Temple has become somewhat of a pitstop for head coaches looking to advance up the rung of Division-1 jobs.

After Golden was Steve Addazio, who made the admittedly less prestigious jump to Boston College in December of 2012. Now, it appears that head man Matt Rhule is going to make the quantum leap from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12, as he will reportedly be named head coach at Baylor, according to Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman:

Rhule’s teams at Temple have improved markedly since his first season in 2013, in which the team went 2-10 with only one conference victory.

The next season, the Owls improved to six wins, followed by a 10-4 campaign in 2015 and a 10-3 mark this season, capped off with a sound AAC conference championship victory over Navy.

He has experience in the NFL as the New York Giants assistant offensive line coach in 2012 and produced three NFL draft picks during his time as Temple’s head man, with Baltimore Ravens corner Tavon Young, a fourth-round pick, being the most notable.

Baylor, on the other hand, was sent into a tailspin after a damning report which blasted the administration and coaching staff’s handling of multiple allegations of rape against football players led to the firing of head coach Art Briles and school president Ken Starr.

The team started off hot this season, emerging early as a College Football Playoff player-a nightmare scenario for the NCAA- but their soft early-season schedule proved misleading.

They would follow a 1-point loss to Texas with five additional and successive losses, dashing any hope of a significant bowl birth, and even putting into doubt a .500 season.

Rhule will be a surprising choice to many despite his consistent improvement and knack for player development at Temple.

Many expected a head coach who would fit the mold that Briles established at Baylor-a high-flying spread offense- such as SMU’s Chad Morris or Cal’s Sonny Dykes.

Related Story: Purdue to hire Jeff Brohm as next head coach

However, this offseason has been one of false reports and pundits being dead wrong. Just ask LSU how the Jimbo Fisher/Tom Herman rumors panned out.

Baylor will be getting a young, respected head coach who has proven capable of re-establishing and sustaining success at a school with far fewer resources than Baylor.

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