Addazio expected back

ALL INDICATIONS are that Temple football coach Steve Addazio will not be leaving North Broad Street after one season to fill the vacancy at Rutgers.

One source said Addazio has even told Temple boosters that he had "no interest" in the job.

Reports out of North Jersey had said Addazio could be targeted by Rutgers after Greg Schiano left in the middle of last week to go to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They even suggested that Addazio could be the Scarlet Knights' primary target.

But sources have said that Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti has had only informal contact with Addazio. That, most likely, means through Addazio's agent, Ryan Harlan, who also happens to represent both Schiano and the guy who now appears to be the leading candidate, Florida International coach Mario Cristobal, a one-time Rutgers assistant under Schiano.

It now appears the new coach will either be Cristobal or Rutgers interim coach Kyle Flood, Schiano's offensive coordinator, as Addazio, according to the Newark Star Ledger, has " faded into the background."

Pernetti said it was his hope to have the new coach in place no later than Wednesday, which just happens to be national signing day.

If Addazio had indeed been offered the job, it could have jeopardized the latest Temple recruiting class. The Owls have verbal commitments from 28 players, and it's projected to be perhaps their best recruiting class ever.

The Owls went 9-4 in 2011 for Addazio, the former Florida offensive coordinator who succeeded Al Golden. After a runner-up finish in the MAC East, the Owls beat Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl, their first bowl win since 1979.