Temple University’s signing of Rod Carey, who for six years was the head football coach of Northern Illinois University, came as a surprise. Coaches move on or get fired with regularity. With Carey’s signing as Temple’s head coach the surprise was the timing of his hiring. Many observers viewed the move by Carey as lateral.
One thing in Carey’s favor may have been Temple’s need for a new coach, and, quickly!
Geoff Collins coached Temple to a second-place finish in the American Athletic East Division in the 2018 season. The Owls’ 8-4 record was good enough for an invitation to the Independence Bowl where Temple fell to Duke, 56-27.
By the time of the Independence Bowl, Collins had signed on as the new Georgia Tech head coach with interim coach Ed Foley filling in at bowl time.
Manny Diaz was hired to replace Collins at Temple. Suddenly, the Miami (Fla.) job came open and Diaz, who had been defensive coordinator under previous Miami head coach, Mark Richt, quickly left Temple when he was offered the Miami job in Florida.
Carey’s biggest game at Northern Illinois may have been his first. He took over coaching duties for the Huskies’ appearance in the 2013 Orange Bowl, which Northern Illinois lost, 31-10, to Florida State. Carey’s elevation to head coach followed when Northern Illinois head coach Dave Doeren took the North Carolina State job.
With a 52-30 won-loss record at Northern Illinois, Carey has the credentials. Northern Illinois made four appearances in MAC championship games under Carey with victories in 2014 and in 2018. The only dark cloud might be Carey’s 0-6 record in bowl games for Northern Illinois.
Temple calls Lincoln Financial Field home, the home field of the National Football league Philadelphia Eagles.
Temple was in the Mid-American Conference until 2011.
Temple finished second to well-regarded Central Florida in the American Athletic East in 2018.