K.C. Keeler, a Pennsylvania native who played his college football in Delaware and has coached all over that region, has emerged as a top target in Temple's head coaching search.
Multiple sources on Sunday told FootballScoop that Temple's search had zeroed in on Keeler, the leader of the Sam Houston State football program since 2014.
The Owls fired Stan Drayton last month, just before Drayton had finished a third season at the helm.
They immediately conducted an in-depth search that saw Keeler, Syracuse assistant Elijah Robinson and Marshall head coach Charles Huff deeply in the mix.
But by Sunday, all signs pointed in the direction of Keeler, with an announcement from Temple said to be possible as soon as the next 24 hours.
The NCAA December Signing Period for football opens Wednesday and runs through Friday; the NCAA Transfer Portal Window is open Dec. 9-28.
Sources told FootballScoop that Keeler by Sunday afternoon had begun to formulate his potential inaugural Temple staff as he made calls to potential future assistant coaches who could join him in Philadelphia.
There were also other logistical preparations being made for the transition, sources told FootballScoop.
Keeler guided Sam Houston State to remarkable success at the Football Championship Subdivision level and then helped the program's massive jump from FCS to Football Bowls Subdivision play.
The Bearkats, whom Keeler led to the FCS title in the COVID-19 spring 2021 season, just closed out a 9-3 regular season in just their second year of FBS competition.
Conversely, Temple football has posted four consecutive nine-loss seasons and had just nine seasons of .500 or better in the last quarter-century.
Keeler has won almost 275 career games and has almost 50 NCAA Playoffs wins at the D-II and FCS levels.
Temple, which has membership in the American Athletic Conference, currently is scheduled to face UMass to open the 2025 season followed by tentatively set games against Oklahoma and Georgia Tech within the season's first month.
Update> Sources tell FootballScoop Keeler has now formally accepted the position with Temple.