Temple Football in Search of a New Coach: The Candidates

Temple is the worst football program in the nation.

Al Golden took this perennial cellar dweller and, thanks in part to the incredibly weak teams in the Mid-American Conference, turned Temple into a winner.

However, as Bleacher Report first reported months ago, Al Golden had no intentions of staying at Temple long term.

There are many problems with the Temple job. It should come as no surprise that Golden punched his golden ticket out of town.

As Bleacher Report has reported, there is a very good possibility that Temple Athletics could have their funding slashed. Football is seen as one of the main areas for Governor Tom Corbett to begin slashing Temple's athletic budget.

Another problem Temple faces is its shockingly bad fan apathy. This Bleacher Report article highlights just how little the Temple community cares about Temple athletics.

Temple fans everywhere dream of Andy Talley roaming their sidelines. For over 20 years Talley has been coaching crosstown rival Villanova. Despite Villanova competing at the FCS level, Talley has dominated Temple through the years.

Andy Talley is a national champion at the FCS level. 

Talley has produced better NFL players than Temple has over the past 20 years, including Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook.

Problem for Temple fans is that Talley likely views the Temple job as a downgrade. With Villanova poised to join the Big East Conference for football, why would Talley take a step down to coach a MAC team instead of leading his program to the next level?

This pick should be rated as slim to no chance at all.

Vanderlinden has been a head coach before, at Maryland from 1997-2000. Things didn't go too well in his first stint as head coach, as Vanderlinden was fired after posting a record of 15-29.

Vanderlinden is considered one of the favorites for the Temple position. Temple likes his Penn State roots at Linebacker U.

His lack of a winning record is not a huge concern, as the MAC is an incredibly easy conference to win games in.

Tom Bradley is another Penn State defensive coach.

Bradley has been at Penn State as an assistant to Joe Paterno since 1979. Bradley has been incredibly loyal to Penn State in this span, turning down several head coaching jobs.

In 2005, Bradley told Temple "no thank you" when offered their head coaching job. There is no reason to think Bradley has changed his mind.

Molnar is a protege of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly. 

Molnar has deep recruiting roots in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, something that Temple needs. His offensive mindset might be something Temple fans desire.

Notre Dame's coaching staff is under heavy criticism right now. Don't be surprised if Molnar jumps if offered. Better to take a head coaching position now than get fired and be looking for work next summer.

Addazio could be a great hire for Temple but might be a bit of a stretch. Would Addazio really settle for a coaching job in the MAC?

There is a good chance Addazio leaves Florida this year after Urban Meyer's "retirement." Florida's offense has certainly proven itself under Addazio.

This journalist thinks that Addazio will hold out for a more respectable offer, but don't be surprised if Temple makes a run at him.

Matt Rhule is a controversial candidate. Temple's biggest weakness under Golden has been poor quarterback play. So why would Temple hire its current quarterback coach for head coach?

Unlike the other candidates, Rhule's "big time" experience is severely lacking. But this is Temple, so "big time" experience may not be necessary.

Keith Armstrong is a former Temple player. He has coached at big schools as well as the NFL.

The problem is, at age 44 and with over 20 years in the coaching game, how come Armstrong is still a special teams coach? Armstrong has never been an offensive or defensive coordinator, never mind a head coach. Since 1996 Armstrong has been in the NFL, but always in the role of special teams coach.

Is a 15-year special teams coach really the answer for Temple?