Temple to fire head coach Stan Drayton

Temple is set to fire head coach Stan Drayton, multiple sources tell On3. In his third season in Philadelphia, the Owls are 9-25 with just four wins in the American Athletic Conference.

Defensive coordinator Everett Withers is expected to take over interim duties for the season’s final two games. Temple beat Florida Atlantic 18-15 on Saturday in overtime, ending a two-game losing streak. The Owls are 3-7 in Drayton’s third season and ranked No. 11 in the American Athletic standings.

The Owls were tabbed to finish last in the AAC reason poll, and Drayton has dealt with major roster turnover in recent seasons losing depth on the line of scrimmage and at skill positions. Temple ranks No. 124 in total offense, averaging just 307.1 yards per game and allowing 404.5 yards.

“I would like to extend my appreciation to Coach Drayton for his commitment to Temple University, our student-athletes and the football program over the past three years,” Temple athletic director Arthur Johnson said in a statement, confirming Drayton’s dismissal. “Under his direction, our student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, been outstanding members of the community and Coach Drayton has represented the University with a tremendous amount of integrity and class. I wish him and his family well in their future endeavors.”

Temple never made the postseason under Drayton and never won more than three games in a season. The Owls have also not finished better than No. 10 in the conference.

Drayton arrived at Temple after working as associate head coach and run game coordinator for Tom Herman and Steve Sarkisian from 2017 to 2021. He helped develop Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson and Keaontay Ingram over his time with the Longhorns.

Before his stint with Texas, Stan Drayton coached at Ohio State and helped win the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014. He also won a national championship as a coach at Florida from 2005 to 2007.