Temple has lost four head coaches to Power Five jobs since 2010, most of any FBS program over that time. Incredibly, despite unprecedented turnover, the Owls have remained one of the most consistent programs in the FBS.
With Geoff Collins' departure last week for Georgia Tech, Temple is conducting another head-coaching search, their fifth since Al Golden left for Miami (FL) after the 2010 season. Steve Addazio left for Boston College in 2013, and Matt Rhule left for Baylor in 2016.
Average seasons for their last four head coaches: 3.3.
In 2009, Golden led Temple to nine wins, one short of the program record and only their second-ever season with at least nine wins. Since then, Temple is 74-53. And that includes a 6-17 mark from 2012-13.
Since 2009, Temple has six eight-win seasons and back-to-back 10-win seasons (2015 and 2016). They're riding a four-year bowl streak and were ranked in the AP top 25 in back-to-back years (2015 and 2016) for the first time ever.
Prior to 2009, the Owls had four total eight-win seasons, one total 10-win season, were ranked in the AP top 25 in four total seasons and had two total bowl appearances. And prior to Al Golden's arrival in 2006, their previous five head coaches stayed for an average of 7.4 years. None coached for fewer than five years, and one, Wayne Hardin, was head coach for nearly as long as their most recent four head coaches (13 years vs. 12 years).
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With Collins gone, reports said Temple is considering several Power Five coordinators, including Miami's Manny Diaz, Texas A&M's Mike Elko and Michigan's Don Brown. Elko is no longer a candidate, but Diaz and Brown remain in the mix.
"If Temple wants to stop the revolving door of coaches leaving for Power 5 opportunities, getting someone a bit older, with ties to the East coast and undoubtedly plenty left in the tank, Don Brown makes a whole lot of sense," Doug Samuels of FootballScoop tweeted on Wednesday.
Samuels is right; Brown is a 63-year-old Massachusetts native who, until taking the Michigan job, spent his entire career in the northeast. And yes, Temple would likely prefer to keep a head coach for more than three seasons.
Oddly, the revolving door is working, which, to be clear, Samuels isn't disputing. Their success is undeniable.
Coaching turnover is common. Coaching turnover with this much success is outrageous and remarkably impressive.
