Matt Rhule is close to being named Baylor's next head coach, FootballScoop confirmed on Tuesday. Ashley Hodge of Sic 'Em 365 first reported the news.
Update>> Baylor has now officially confirmed the news.
Rhule has no Texas ties -- something Baylor AD Mack Rhoades laid out as a strongly preferred quality in a September interview -- but he's a proven winner with experience taking an established program to greater heights. Something, obviously, Baylor is looking to do as it moves on from the Art Briles era.
Rhule is 20-7 in his last two seasons Temple with a 15-3 mark in AAC play, including an impressive 34-10 triumph over Navy in the American championship on Saturday. A native of State College, Pa., Rhule spent the vast majority of his career working up and down the East Coast, starting at Pennsylvania's Albright College before moving on to Buffalo, Western Carolina and Temple with brief stops at UCLA and with the New York Giants mixed in.
Rhule has worked on both sides of the ball as an assistant, but his Temple teams have been hallmarked by great defense. The AAC champion Owls rank fifth nationally in yards per play allowed (4.6) and eighth in scoring defense (17.2 points per game allowed). Temple is 49th in yards per play and 43rd in scoring.
This story will be updated as the news develops.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.