Northern Illinois head coach Rod Carey is leaving for the same position at Temple, according to FootballScoop.
"Rod Carey is expected to be the next head coach at Temple, sources told FootballScoop on Thursday," Zach Barnett reported. "We are told the deal has not yet been signed, but Carey is the pick and Temple is expecting to get the deal done today.
Carey replaces Manny Diaz, who accepted the position in early December but returned to Miami in late December when Mark Richt announced his retirement. Carey, 47, is 52-29 in six seasons at Northern Illinois and led the Huskies to two MAC titles (and two more division titles).
Who might Northern Illinois target as Carey's replacement?
Sean Frazier was named NIU athletics director in July 2013, months after his predecessor Jeff Compher promoted Carey from offensive coordinator to head coach to fill the opening left by Dave Doeren. If Frazier opts for another in-house hire, assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Uremovich and defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Knowles are the obvious candidates. Uremovich, a former NIU tight end, is in his third stint on the staff. He followed Doeren to NC State in 2013 but returned in 2016.
Joe Rudolph, Wisconsin offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, interviewed for the Temple job. He was the Badgers' tight ends coach from 2008-11, the same time Frazier worked in the athletics department. Two others with Wisconsin ties, current defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and former assistant head coach and running backs coach (and current Baltimore Ravens running backs coach) Thomas Hammock could be candidates as well. Hammock also played for the Huskies.
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FBS coordinators to watch include Marcus Freeman (Cincinnati), Chip Long (Notre Dame), Brian Brohm (Purdue) and Brian Ferentz (Iowa).
What about Tracy Claeys? The 50-year-old former Northern Illinois assistant has recruited the area extensively and is coming off a strong first season at Washington State. His former colleague Matt Limegrover, currently offensive line coach at Penn State , could be an option, too, as could Limegrover's current colleague, Nittany Lions' offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne.
