Temple hires K.C. Keeler as next head football coach

Temple announced on Sunday the hiring of Sam Houston’s K.C. Keeler as the Owls’ next head football coach. Keeler has been at SHSU since 2014, leading the Bearkats to FCS National Championship in 2020-21 and a successful transition to FBS play over the last several seasons. His team is bowl-bound this year after finishing the regular season 9-3 (6-2) in just their second year of Conference USA competition.

“Coach Keeler has a track record of evaluating, recruiting, and developing student-athletes into championship-level young men,” Temple AD Arthur Johnson said. “His leadership, experience, and the culture he establishes within programs are exactly what Temple football needs as we look to return to prominence in the competitive college football landscape. We are ecstatic to welcome K.C., his wife, Janice, and his entire family to Temple.”

Keeler is a Pennsylvania-native, having grown up in Emmaus in the Lehigh Valley. He played at Delaware and later had a successful 11-year tenure as head coach at his alma mater, leading the Hens to a Division I-AA National Title in 2003 and FCS National Championship game appearances in both 2007 and 2010. He also coached at Rowan University in New Jersey, first as an assistant and then as head coach (1993-2001).

“I am beyond thrilled to be named Temple University’s next head football coach,” Keeler said. “I would like to thank Arthur Johnson and President John Fry for  this incredible opportunity. Their shared vision and enthusiasm for returning this program to greatness has been contagious. I’m eager to get to work to bring that vision to fruition for the Cherry and the White. It’s a perfect fit and it feels great to be coming back home!”

credit to Temple Athletics for the image