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Temple parts ways with defensive line coach and changes defensive playcaller

Assistant head coach Henry Baker will take over defensive play-calling duties for the remainder of the season.

Temple assistant head coach Henry Baker is expected to take over defensive play-calling duties.
Temple assistant head coach Henry Baker is expected to take over defensive play-calling duties.Read moreIsaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer

Temple has parted ways with defensive line coach Cedric Calhoun, while assistant head coach Henry Baker is expected to take over defensive play-calling duties for the remainder of the season, the program confirmed to The Inquirer on Monday.

On3’s Pete Nakos first reported the changes, which comes after Temple’s 38-31 loss to previously winless Charlotte at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, dropping the Owls to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the American.

Charlotte entered Saturday scoring 16 points per game, but managed to score five touchdowns against Temple, snapping a 15-game losing streak and securing its first victory over an FBS opponent since November 2024.

Following the defeat, Temple head coach K.C. Keeler said changes were going to be made to the program.

» READ MORE: After ‘embarrassing’ loss to Charlotte, coach K.C. Keeler vows that changes will be made

“That was the single most embarrassing game I’ve ever coached,” Keeler said Saturday. “There will be some changes made. I’m going to have to make some changes.”

When asked whether those changes would involve his coaching staff, Keeler declined to confirm.

Baker is also the pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach. His appointment would remove defensive play-calling responsibilities from coordinator Brian L. Smith, who has overseen the unit since joining Keeler’s staff ahead of the 2025 season. Smith’s departure has not been announced.

Calhoun also joined Temple in 2025 after previously working alongside Smith at Rice. The two coaches were tasked with rebuilding an Owls defense that struggled throughout Keeler’s first season.

Temple entered Saturday allowing 397.2 yards and 26.3 points per game. The Owls have since surrendered a combined 72 points in consecutive losses to UConn and Charlotte.

Keeler said the coaching staff simplified its defensive schemes before the Charlotte game to eliminate recurring assignment and communication errors, but those problems persisted.

Baker previously served as co-defensive coordinator at Marshall in 2024 before joining Temple’s staff.

The Owls enter a bye week before traveling to East Carolina on Oct. 31, when Baker is expected to begin calling the defense.

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