Fran Dunphy will retire after 2018-19 season

Though rumored for a couple of weeks, Temple officially announced Wednesday that the 2018-19 season will be the last for head coach Fran Dunphy. Coach Dunphy, who turns 70 in October, will retire following the season and be replaced by assistant coach and former Temple standout Aaron McKie. In the same release, the school announced that McKie’s title has been changed to associate head coach/coach in waiting.

Dunphy has been the Owls head coach since 2006, following a successful 17-year tenure at Penn. He’s won four conference coach of the year awards at Temple (2x A-10, 2x AAC) and has a 247-152 (.619) record during his tenure.

McKie has been on the staff since 2014, following a 13-year NBA playing career and a 6-year tenure as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers. He spent most of his playing career with the Sixers, as well, playing alongside Allen Iverson and helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 2001.

McKie’s familiarity with the city does not start at Temple, as he is a Philly native and starred at Simon Gratz HS. That history with the school and area, as well as the continuity with the existing rosters and his positive standing with Temple fans and alums, point to this being a slam dunk decision for the program.