Matt Rhule interviews for Temple football head coaching position

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Giants assistant coach Matt Rhule interviewed Saturday for Temple's head coaching position, according to multiple sources.

The Owls are seeking a replacement for Steve Addazio, who left Tuesday to take the coaching job at Boston College.

Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw would not confirm or deny that he interviewed Rhule before the Owls basketball game with Duke.

"A lot of the candidates we talked to and who we will talk to have asked us not to" comment, Bradshaw said.

Rhule was the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Temple before joining the Giants in March. He had various coaching positions during his six seasons as an Owls assistant, five of which he served under Al Golden.

Rhule interviewed for Temple's top job in 2010 when Addazio won the coaching position vacated by Golden, who left for Miami.

Owls defensive coordinator Chuck Heater interviewed Friday, according to sources. OwlScoop.com is reporting that Golden is pushing Miami defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio, who was also Golden's defensive coordinator at Temple, as a candidate. D'Onofrio reportedly turned down the job in 2010 at Golden's suggestion.

"Some people will say you are going to get another Al Golden, another Steve," Bradshaw said. "I will say this is a different need, a different time in place."

Bradshaw estimates that Temple will interview 10 candidates in person and several others by phone.

"I have not restricted [the job] to that," Bradshaw said of hiring someone with prior head-coaching experience. "But somebody as a head coach, who's been successful as a head coach and recruiting has an advantage. No question."