Temple will use bye week to reset after shaking up its defensive staff: ‘I wanted a strong voice’

Temple coach K.C. Keeler considered making changes to his defensive coaching staff before Saturday’s loss to Charlotte. After watching the Owls surrender 31 second-half points to a previously winless opponent, he had seen enough.

Speaking Tuesday for the first time since Temple parted ways with defensive line coach Cedric Calhoun and reassigned defensive coordinator Brian L. Smith, Keeler cited poor execution, communication breakdowns, and a lack of accountability as reasons for the changes.

Temple’s 38-31 loss to Charlotte at Lincoln Financial Field dropped the Owls to 2-5 and 1-2 in the American.

Keeler said he informed athletic director Arthur Johnson of his intentions after the game before meeting individually with his defensive assistants.

» READ MORE: Temple parts ways with defensive line coach and appoints new defensive play-caller

The decision extended beyond statistics. Keeler was particularly frustrated by the difference in effort and accountability between Temple’s offense and defense.

“I’ve been a head coach for 33 years,” Keeler said. “Maybe as embarrassed as I’ve ever been on a football field, watching our defense just lackadaisically go out there and play.”

Charlotte entered Saturday averaging 16 points and had lost 15 consecutive games. The 49ers scored five touchdowns against a Temple defense who has allowed 72 total points in consecutive losses.

Keeler said the defensive line has underperformed.

“Raw talent is there,” Keeler said. “Overall, defensively, we don’t tackle very well. Overall, defensively, we’re poor in gap discipline. ... Overall, defensively, the lack of communication is staggering.”

Keeler also suggested additional personnel changes could follow. He said he was consulting the team’s leadership council and speaking with players about their commitment and accountability.

Assistant head coach Henry Baker will replace Smith as Temple’s defensive play-caller. Smith will remain with the program as safeties coach.

Keeler said he selected Baker because of his leadership, familiarity with the defensive system, and shared philosophy.

“I wanted a strong voice,” Keeler said. “Every time I’ve given Henry a responsibility, he has just knocked it out of the park.”

Baker previously worked under Keeler at Delaware and served as co-defensive coordinator at Marshall in 2024.

Keeler said Baker will retain much of Temple’s defensive terminology while making adjustments designed to better suit its personnel.

» READ MORE: After ‘embarrassing’ loss to Charlotte, coach K.C. Keeler vows that changes will be made

One priority will be to simplify communication before the snap.

Keeler explained that Smith’s system attempted to identify the ideal alignment against opposing formations. However, the communication required sometimes left players operating with different assignments, creating openings for explosive plays and blown coverages.

“We were trying to get to that perfect call,” Keeler said. “In an effort to get to that perfect call, a lot of communication [was happening] just before the ball snapped.”

Under Baker, Temple plans to emphasize execution, limiting explosive plays, and forcing opponents to sustain drives rather than relying on complicated adjustments.

Although Smith will no longer direct the defense, Keeler praised his willingness to remain with the program.

Keeler said Smith apologized for the defense’s performance during their conversation after Saturday’s game and accepted responsibility for the unit’s struggles.

The coach said he considered a change in defensive leadership after last season. Instead, he brought in former Delaware defensive coordinator Dave Cohen to provide guidance and an outside perspective.

“When you hire somebody like Brian, you let them come in and do what he did at Rice,” Keeler said. “And then when you see that it’s not working, then you try to give them some help. And then when you see it continues not to work, then that’s when you have to make a change.”

Chris Raitano, the outside linebackers coach, and defensive analyst Jordan Hopkins will work with the defensive line. Hopkins previously worked with the safeties and has experience coaching Temple’s defensive linemen.

Temple enters its bye week needing four victories in its final five games to become bowl eligible.

Keeler said Tuesday’s practice offered an encouraging response to the changes, particularly from defensive players adjusting to Baker’s leadership.

He also noted that Temple’s roster is more talented than its record, but acknowledged the team’s performance has fallen short of expectations.

“I don’t think there’s a person in this building who doesn’t feel that this is more of a 5-2 roster, 6-1 roster than a 2-5 roster,” Keeler said. “But ... you are what your record [says you are].”

The Owls will travel to to East Carolina on Oct. 31 after its bye.