Temple University has appointed K.C. Keeler, formerly the head coach at Sam Houston State, as their new football coach, marking a strategic move to revive the Owls’ football program. This decision comes in light of the recent dismissal of Stan Drayton, who was let go on November 18 after three consecutive seasons of subpar performance. Interim coach Everett Withers had taken the reins during the transition. The Owls have struggled to post a winning record since 2019, having previously enjoyed six straight seasons with a performance of .500 or better between 2014 and 2019.

During his time at Sam Houston State, Keeler achieved an impressive record of 97-39 over 11 seasons, leading the Bearkats to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs six times. Notably, he guided the team to an undefeated season in 2020, culminating in a national championship victory. In addition, under his leadership, the Bearkats transitioned to the Football Bowl Subdivision as part of Conference USA, where they achieved bowl eligibility this season with a commendable 9-3 record and just missed qualifying for the C-USA title game.

Keeler’s coaching career is highlighted by a particularly successful tenure at Delaware from 2002 to 2012, where he steered the Blue Hens to three FCS national championship game appearances, securing the title in 2003. He was recognized for his excellence in coaching when he received the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS Coach of the Year in 2016. Throughout his career, his teams have seen a total of 17 postseason appearances in the NCAA, 11 conference championships, and participation in nine national championship games across various levels.