Baylor Announces New Coach
WACO, Texas — Baylor University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades IV announced today the appointment of Matt Rhule as the 27th Baylor Head Football Coach. Rhule comes to Waco after four seasons as the head coach at Temple University, where he led the Owls to consecutive 10-win seasons in 2015 and 2016 and the 2016 American Athletic Conference championship.Rhule will be introduced at a campus celebration on Wednesday at a time and site to be determined.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Matt, Julie and their children to the Baylor Family,” said Rhoades. “When we set out on our search for a new leader of our football program, we wanted a coach who shared our values, who had demonstrated success, who showed a true commitment to the overall student-athlete and who we believed could lead Baylor to a national championship. We found all of that and more in Matt and I know that he will be a perfect fit with the Baylor Family.”
Rhule served as Head Coach at Temple for four years, compiling a 14-2 conference record in the past two seasons, which included two bowl appearances, two American Athletic Conference East Division titles and the 2016 American Athletic Conference championship. It is the first time in Temple football history that it registered consecutive 10-win seasons and consecutive bowl game appearances. Prior to Temple as the Head Coach, Rhule served as an offensive line coach for the New York Giants in 2012, after coaching six years at Temple, first as the defensive line coach, before switching to quarterbacks and ultimately, to offensive coordinator in 2008. Prior to Temple, Rhule coached at Albright, Buffalo, UCLA and Western Carolina.
“I am truly honored and humbled to join the Baylor Family,” said Rhule, “and I can’t thank President Garland and Mack Rhoades enough for this incredible opportunity. Baylor is a tremendous institution with a history of football success and I know the passion that so many have for the Bears will help bring the community together to reach even greater heights. I am excited to get started.”
Rhule played linebacker from 1994-1997 at Penn State, then earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 1997, before graduating with a degree in Political Science from Penn State and a Master’s degree in Education Psychology from SUNY-Buffalo. He and his wife, Julie, have three children: Bryant (12), and daughters, Vivienne (3) and Leona (1).
“This is a great day for Baylor University and the beginning of a new chapter in our football program,” said Interim President David Garland. “Matt is the absolute right man at the right time to lead us forward and I am confident that his values are our values and that his teams and student-athletes will make us all proud, on and off the field.”
