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Sources: Temple football interviews offensive coordinator for top job

Now that Mark D'Onofrio is not going to become the next Temple football coach, and instead will apparently follow his good friend Al Golden to Miami, the focus shifts to who could get the job.

Offensive coordinator Matt Rhule became the first to interview for the newly vacant Temple Football head coaching job. (Michael S. Wirtz / Staff Photographer)
Offensive coordinator Matt Rhule became the first to interview for the newly vacant Temple Football head coaching job. (Michael S. Wirtz / Staff Photographer)Read more

Now that Mark D'Onofrio is not going to become the next Temple football coach, and instead will apparently follow his good friend Al Golden to Miami, the focus shifts to who could get the job.

Owls athletic director Bill Bradshaw is going to conduct a national search. Remember, 5 years ago, a lot of names came up before Golden's finally surfaced. So it's a process that might take some detours before a decision is made.

Not surprisingly, sources familiar with the situation said the process already is under way. Yesterday, Temple offensive coordinator Matt Rhule became the first to be interviewed.

Rhule has been a member of the staff since 2006, first as defensive line coach, then in charge of quarterbacks and recruiting. He was the offensive coordinator the last three seasons.

Also not surprisingly, those same sources have thrown a few other potential candidates out there. Former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie, who has been working as a television analyst, supposedly has a relationship with Temple senior associate athletic director Herman Frazier. Word is that Davie was interested in 2005, when Golden was hired.

Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti is another person to apparently keep an eye on. As is Paul Guenther, an assistant with the Cincinnati Bengals who got Ursinus into the Division III playoffs in 1999 and 2000. His offensive coordinator there, G.A. Mangus, is also sending out feelers. A former Florida quarterback, Mangus won four D-III playoff games with Delaware Valley in 2004 and '05. Mangus is now the quarterback coach at South Carolina for Steve Spurrier.

If nothing else, it's probably a starting point. *