Today, Baylor University announced the hiring of Matt Rhule as its next head football coach.

Matt and I have been in constant communication the past two days and he has been professional, transparent and respectful of Temple throughout the process. This decision was not easy for Matt and Julie, as they have found a home and happiness at Temple. What Matt achieved on North Broad Street was remarkable and went well beyond the victories and championships. He helped build a tremendous program for student-athletes to earn their degrees and to develop as young men. On behalf of the Temple community, we wish him and his family all the best.

Temple Football has earned a place on the national landscape in recent years, marked most recently by our American Athletic Conference Championship last Saturday. We have momentum; we have passion; we have incredible fan support; we have university leadership that believes in the value and power of Athletics; and most importantly, we have remarkably talented and high character young men in our football program.

I am confident that we will find a strong new leader to take us to even greater heights. We will search far and wide, as expediently and efficiently as possible, but we will not compromise the thoroughness that any coaching search demands. There is no one defining characteristic that we will seek in our next coach, other than someone who shares our values; who has a path forward for championships on the field and for developing our student-athletes off the field; and who has a strong desire to be a part of the Temple family.

I met with our football team a few minutes ago and shared my thoughts on what lies ahead, and also my expectation that they will continue to work hard in class and on the practice field. I am confident they will do both.

Again, my thanks to Matt for his service to Temple. We are excited to begin to write the next chapter of Temple Football.

—Patrick Kraft, director of athletics