Temple’s Everett Withers is set to join football coaching staff at Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University is preparing to hire Temple football chief of staff Everett Withers to become an assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator. On Thursday night, Temple head coach Stan Drayton confirmed Withers’ intent to leave the program which was first reported by ESPN.

“Everett Withers has informed me that he will not return as chief of staff,” Drayton told The Inquirer. “I cannot thank him enough for his invaluable support in my first year as head coach. As a lifelong football coach, I believe he has an opportunity to return to the sideline where he will also be invaluable.”

Withers, the former head coach at James Madison and Texas State, was hired by Temple to support head coach Stan Drayton’s adjustment to his new role.

Withers handled Drayton’s responsibilities after Drayton was out with flulike symptoms in the week leading up to Temple’s road game against Navy on Oct. 29. The Owls lost to the Midshipmen, 27-20.

Withers will reunite with Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman, whom he worked with at Ohio State from 2012-13.

» READ MORE: Temple signs 25 players in Stan Drayton’s first true recruiting class with the Owls

This story has been updated.