Temple close to hiring Giants assistant as new football coach

Matt Rhule, the New York Giants assistant offensive line coach, will be introduced as Temple's new head football coach on Monday unless there is a breakdown in negotiations, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

There have been conflicting reports as to whether Rhule has been formally offered the position. Either way, the former Owls assistant is clearly the guy Temple wants to replace Steve Addazio, who left Dec. 4 for Boston College.

Rhule is expected to accept the offer.

Rhule and Miami defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio were the finalists for the job. A Temple source confirmed a CBSSports.com report that D'Onofrio took his name out of consideration Friday.

Rhule's news conference is set for Monday partly because of timing concerns. The Giants are in Atlanta for Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Falcons. Rhule is expected to fly back to the Philadelphia-New York area Sunday evening.

Rhule was the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Temple before joining the Giants in March. He had various coaching positions during his six seasons as an Owls assistant, five of which he served under former head coach Al Golden.

Rhule interviewed for Temple's top job in 2010 when Addazio won the coaching position vacated by Golden, who left for Miami.

The 37-year-old said that coaching the Owls remains his dream job, and his wife, Julie, still works at the university.

Several Temple football players, including the Owls' top 2013 recruit, urged the hiring of Rhule to replace Addazio.

Rhule is "definitely somebody we would stay with," said Shawn Brown, the father of Williamstown High School linebacker Buddy Brown, the headliner of Temple's 2013 recruiting class. "We kind of remember [Rhule] because we went to a camp when he was there. He was a decent guy. We definitely know who he is, so there's definitely a little familiarity with him."

Like Rhule, D'Onofrio coached at Temple from 2006 to 2010 under Golden. D'Onofrio was the Owls defensive coordinator went to Miami when Golden took the Hurricanes coaching job. D'Onofrio reportedly turned down a request to interview for the Temple job after Golden left.

Also interviewing for the job were Eagles defensive coordinator and Temple alumnus Todd Bowles, Temple defensive coordinator Chuck Heater, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, former Florida International coach Mario Cristobal, and Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton, sources said.

Note. Cory Crawford, a senior wideout at Palmetto High School (Fla.), is on an official visit to Temple. Crawford gave the Owls an oral commitment on Oct. 27.