Thursday, December 23, 2010

Addazio officially named head coach at Temple

PHILADELPHIA - Steve Addazio.  who helped the University of Florida win two BCS National Championships (2006, 2008) in the last five years, has been named Temple University's 25th head football coach.   He most recently served as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator for the Gators during the 2010 season.

The Farmington, Conn., native has quarter-century of coaching experience and 11 postseason bowl games, including six BCS games in the last 15 years, on his resume.  He is expected to coach in the Outback Bowl as Florida takes on Penn State on Jan. 1.

“This is truly a great day for Temple Football as Steve Addazio is the perfect coach to take the program to the next level,” Temple University Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw said.  “Steve brings a wealth of experience with some of the nation’s best programs.  As one of the top recruiters in the country, Steve will be able to bring talented players to Temple, and with his vision and passion for the game, he will be able to lead them to success on the field.

“That success will also translate to the classroom, as Steve truly understands the mission of Temple University in putting the ‘student’ first in student-athlete.”   

“It’s great to be back in the Northeast. I’d like to thank Bill Bradshaw and Dr. Ann Weaver Hart for giving me the opportunity to be here,” Addazio said. “I am honored. I am humbled to be standing here as the head football coach at Temple University. I will give everything I have to make Philadelphia and the University community proud.”  

The 51-year old Addazio spent the past six seasons at the University of Florida under head coach Urban Meyer, serving as associate head coach and offensive coordinator in 2010.

He took over the reins of the offense in 2009 and finished the season ranked first in the SEC in total offense and second in rushing offense, passing offense and scoring offense. UF finished in the Top 10 nationally in passing efficiency (1st), total offense (6th), rushing offense (10th) and scoring offense (10th).

The Gators were the only team in the nation in 2009 to rush for over 3,000 yards and pass for more than 3,000 yards. UF was one of seven teams in the nation to have at least 25 rushing touchdowns and 25 passing touchdowns on the season. Florida averaged 5.6 yards per rush in 2009, the third-best average in the nation. The offense totaled 3,105 rushing yards (6th in the nation) and 30 rushing touchdowns (11th in the nation).

Center Maurkice Pouncey was named a first-team All-American in 2009 and became the first Rimington Trophy winner in Florida’s school history.

Addazio coached one of the most prominent offensive lines in UF history in 2008 that allowed Florida to rush for 3,236 yards, averaging a school-record 5.9 yards per carry, improving from a 5.3 average in 2007. The offensive line allowed the Gators to pass for 33 touchdowns and run for 42 touchdowns in 2008, as Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow passed Emmitt Smith for first-place all-time in rushing touchdowns. The 2008 offensive line only allowed 16 sacks during the season and contributed to one of the most balanced teams in school history that ranked fourth in both scoring offense and defense.

In 2007, he coached an offensive line that blocked for an offense that rushed for 2,602 yards, for an average of 5.3 yards per carry, a jump from the 2006 average of 4.7 yards, and also helped the offense to run for 39 touchdowns. The OL allowed just 13 sacks in 2007, a drop of 10 sacks from 2006.

Addazio worked with the offensive line, which allowed only 23 sacks and gave up one or less in a game seven times in 2006 after the group allowed 35 sacks in 2005. The unit also paved the way for the UF run game that increased from 3.9 yards per carry and 146.8 yards per game in 2005 to 4.7 yards per carry and 160.0 yards per game in 2006.

Addazio went to Indiana (2002-04) after spending the previous three seasons at the University of Notre Dame, where he served as the offensive line, tight ends and special teams' coach between 1999-2001.

Prior to his tenure at Notre Dame, Addazio served on the staff at Syracuse University for four seasons (1995-98). The Orange won three consecutive Big East crowns during Addazio's four seasons and appeared in four bowl games.

Prior to Addazio's Division I collegiate coaching career, he served as one of the nation's top high school coaches at Cheshire High School in Cheshire, Conn. He placed over 20 student-athletes in Division I-A, I-AA, II, and III programs in his seven years. His teams were nationally ranked in both 1992 and 1994. During one stretch, his team won 34 consecutive games, the second-longest string in the nation. His teams also won three state titles in a row.

Addazio began his coaching career at Western Connecticut State University, where he served as an assistant coach under Paul Pasqualoni from 1984-87. The Colonials claimed the New England Football Conference title in 1985 and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in school history.

Addazio inherits a Temple team that posted an 8-4 record in 2010, including a win over Big East champion Connecticut. It marked the first time in school history Temple had back-to-back bowl eligibility seasons. The Owls also won the 2010 Mayor’s Cup, winning its first overtime game in school history.   Eleven Owls earned All-MAC honors, including a school record eight first-team All-MAC honorees for the second consecutive season.

Temple returns 14 starters, including five All-MAC honorees, for the 2011 season.

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