Temple's Rhule takes job with NYG

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (3/13/12) – Temple offensive coordinator Matt Rhule, who also served as the Owls' tight ends coach, and recruiting coordinator, has resigned to accept the assistant offensive line coach’s position with the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

“Matt has been tremendously loyal to this university and has a truly great football mind,” Temple head coach Steve Addazio said. “This is a great opportunity for him and his career. We are very grateful for his contributions to Temple, and we certainly understand that when our great coaches have opportunities, it’s a compliment to our program. We wish Matt nothing but the best. He will always have a special place here at Temple.”

Rhule joins former Owl wide receivers coach (2007-09) Kevin M. Gilbride, who coaches the Giants’ wide receivers.

Rhule, who played four seasons at Penn State and has 14 seasons of collegiate coaching experience, was recently promoted by Addazio to co-offensive coordinator while still coaching the TU tight ends.

His role changed several times during his tenure at Temple. In the spring of 2008, Rhule was promoted to offensive coordinator. He also coached the TU quarterbacks.  He coached the defensive line in 2006 and served as the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. For three consecutive years, Temple’s recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the MAC [2006, 2007, 2008].

In 2011, Rhule served as the assistant offensive coordinator and tight ends coach as well as the recruiting coordinator. The Owls’ 2012 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the MAC for the fourth time during his tenure.
             
Last fall Rhule mentored two-time first-team All-MAC selection TE?Evan Rodriguez. For the second time in Rhule’s tenure, the Owls set the Temple single-season rushing yardage record and rushing touchdowns records behind the explosive efforts of All-MAC?junior running backs Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown.
             
In 2010, Rhule guided the offense to the largest margin of victory in a MAC?game.  Helping the team to an 8-4 regular-season record, the Owls recorded back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1978-79, including their first win over a BCS?team. The Owls recorded the largest margin of victory (42 points) in a MAC?game against Buffalo. A school record six offensive players earned All-MAC?honors, including repeat first-team honorees OL Colin Madison, OL Darius Morris, and RB Bernard Pierce as well as first-time honoree TE Evan Rodriguez.
             
In 2009, Rhule’s offense helped TU win a single-season record nine consecutive games en route to a 9-4 overall record and first-place tie in the MAC?East. Under Rhule’s guidance, the Owls set the Temple single-season rushing yardage record. A school record five offensive players were named All-MAC, including three on the first team.?All-American Bernard Pierce rushed his way into the Temple record book, re-writing all records for a rookie en route to 2009?MAC?Freshman of the Year honors.              
             
In 2008, Rhule took the reigns as offensive coordinator, helping the Owls to their most wins in nearly two decades. The Owls out-scored their opponents for the season for the first time since 1990.?Rhule coached All-MAC honorees C?Alex Derenthal and school record holder WR?Bruce Francis, while QB?Adam DiMichele set the school record for passing touchdowns with six in the 55-52 win over Eastern Michigan. WR?Bruce Francis set the school records for career receiving TDs (23) and consecutive games with a reception (38).
   
Rhule arrived in Owl Country after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Western Carolina, including three as assistant head coach.
             
From 2002 to 2005, Rhule was an assistant at Western Carolina under head coach Kent Briggs, serving as assistant head coach during his last three seasons. In 2005, he was offensive line coach and run game coordinator after directing the linebackers his first three years. Rhule was special teams coordinator during his tenure in Cullowhee (N.C.). In 2005, the Catamounts led Division I-AA in kickoff returns, averaging 27.44 yards per return. Sophomore Mike Malone earned first team All-Southern Conference honors with a 31.29 yards per kickoff return average, ranking second nationally. Two offensive linemen and the team’s punter captured second team all-league accolades.
                             
Rhule began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Penn State in the spring of 1998 before working at Albright College in Reading, Pa. for the 1998 season. At Albright, he coached the linebackers in a 4-3 scheme and recruited western and central Pennsylvania.
             
Rhule, born January 31, 1975, played four seasons at linebacker with the Nittany Lions under Joe Paterno. A three-time Penn State Scholar-Athlete, he earned Academic All-Big 10 honors in 1997.
             
A State College, Pa. native,  Rhule received his undergraduate degree in political science before earning his master’s degree in educational psychology from Buffalo in 2003.