Eagles' Todd Bowles interviews for Temple job

Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was interviewed Monday night for the Temple head coaching job, sources told The Inquirer.

Bowles, who was a standout defensive back for the Owls from 1982 through 1985, was the sixth candidate to interview for the Temple position that opened up after Steve Addazio left last Tuesday for the Boston College job.

Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw declined comment Monday night on Bowles or any of the candidates. He said the job has continued to attract "a high degree of interest, and we've had a wide range of applicants."

"We've heard from head coaches who are in bowls to coordinators at schools that are in BCS bowls to NFL people," he said. "I'm really pleased with the kind of response we've received. It's a national kind of response. It's refreshing to hear the positive talk about the program."

Although there is no set timetable for hiring a coach, Bradshaw said he would like to have one in place next week. He said setting up schedules to speak with interested coaches has been somewhat difficult.

"Sometimes it's not as much hiring someone within a time frame as it is having respect for their schedules," he said. "Being in bowls, recruiting, it's a little more challenging. But, hopefully, by the end of the week, we've talked to everyone."

According to sources, others who have interviewed are New York Giants offensive line coach Matt Rhule, University of Miami defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio, Temple defensive coordinator Chuck Heater, Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton, and former Florida International head coach Mario Cristobal.

One reported candidate for the job, San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre, accepted the job at Colorado on Monday.

Bowles, 49, also has coached in the NFL for Miami, Dallas, Cleveland and the New York Jets. He joined the Eagles before the season as secondary coach but was named defensive coordinator on Oct. 16 after coach Andy Reid fired Juan Castillo. His only head coaching experience came on an interim basis with the Dolphins for the last three games of the 2011 season.

Like Heater, Rhule and D'Onofrio have Temple ties. Rhule coached with the Owls for six years, five under Al Golden and one under Addazio. D'Onofrio was Golden's defensive coordinator before following Golden to Miami. Heater worked with Addazio at Florida and Temple.

Drayton, who is considered an outstanding recruiter, coached at Penn in 1995 and at Villanova from 1996 to '99. Cristobal led Florida International to bowl games in 2010 and 2011 but was fired last week after his team posted a 3-9 record.

The Owls lost another assistant coach Monday when tight ends coach Frank Leonard left to join Addazio at Boston College. Leonard, who came to Temple after serving as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Rams, was a teammate of Addazio's at Central Connecticut State, and the two coached together at Western Connecticut.

Addazio also has brought with him Temple offensive coordinator Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye.