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Temple unlikely to hire coach before next week

The Temple Owls still do not have head football coach, and it is unlikely that one will be named by Friday.

But Owls athletic director Bill Bradshaw said Wednesday the announcement will likely come next week.

"It is unlikely that we would have any decision before early next week,"  Bradshaw said of seeking a replacement for Steve Addazio, who left Dec. 4 for the coaching job at Boston College.  "There are still some conversations that we have to have. There's still a lot of background work we have to do.

"A lot of the challenges with interviews and just the timing of things with the university are challenges to getting things done more quickly. We are trying to navigate unusual circumstances.

Richard E. Englert is Temple's interim president until Neil D. Theobald officially becomes the university's 10th president in Jan 1, 2013. Theobald is currently a top administrator at Indiana University.

"Their involvement is very important," Bradshaw said of both Englert and Theobald each having input in the hire. "That's a circumstance we have to navigate that's a little different."

Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is believed to be one of the finalists for the job. However, Bradshaw would not deny or confirm it.  He would only say Temple has "a small group of finalists we are considering."

"I would hesitate to give any kind of order to that right now," he said. "We are not in that position right now.  But I would say any one of the finalists would prove to be a very good hirer, and would be highly successful as the next football coach at Temple."

In addition to Bowles, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, Temple defensive coordinator Chuck Heater, New York Giants assistant offensive line coach Matt Rhule, former Florida International coach Mario Cristobal, Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton, and Miami defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio also interviewed for the position, according to sources.

One reported candidate for the job, San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre, accepted the job at Colorado on Monday. Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson withdrew his name from consideration.

"In some [coaching searches] there's really one candidate," Bradshaw said. "You need to get that candidate, because that's the fit.

"In this one, we have some options."