Photo courtesy of San Diego Athletics.
Caragher Takes Over as Head Coach at San Jose State
San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Ron Caragher has been named the new head football coach at San Jose State, the school announced Monday.
Caragher takes over for Mike MacIntyre, who left to take the Colorado job last week.
Caragher comes to San Jose State after spending the last six years as the head coach of the University of San Diego. The Toreros compiled a 44-22 record and were the 2007, 2011 and 2012 Pioneer Football League co-champions under Caragher.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to lead the San Jose State football program. Having grown up in the San Jose area, I understand the rich tradition of Spartan Football - it's lineage of great coaches, terrific teams, and outstanding players," Caragher said in a release.
"I very much look forward to getting to know the young men in the program and building upon the success of this most recent and outstanding 2012 season. San Jose State football is on the rise with its top-25 ranking. I am excited about our entrance into the Mountain West Conference and look forward to leading the charge."
Western Michigan Names Fleck as New Head Coach
Kalamazoo, MI (Sports Network) - Western Michigan will name P.J. Fleck as its new head football coach, the university confirmed on Monday.
Fleck, who is currently serving as the wide receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is tentatively expected to be introduced during a Tuesday press conference, though that could be pushed back due to his wife currently in labor with the couple's second child.
The 32-year-old Fleck began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Jim Tressel at Ohio State in 2006 and spent the next three seasons on the staff at his alma mater, fellow Mid American Conference member Northern Illinois. He then had a two-year stint as wide receivers coach at Rutgers from 2010-11 before joining Greg Schiano in Tampa Bay when the former Scarlet Knights' sideline boss became the Buccaneers' head coach.
Fleck played four seasons as a wide receiver at Northern Illinois from 1999-2003 and also briefly played with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers from 2004-05.
The Illinois native replaces Bill Cubit, who was fired by Western Michigan following a 4-8 campaign in 2012.
Temple Hires Matt Rhule
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Temple University has hired Matt Rhule as its next head football coach.
Rhule spent six years on the Owls' staff before leaving this season to be an assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants.
He replaces Steve Addazio, who took the head coaching job at Boston College earlier this month.
"We had a diverse and talented pool of candidates and an overwhelming amount of interest in the Temple football head coaching position, but one person distinguished himself from the rest -- Matt Rhule," said director of athletics Bill Bradshaw. "Matt is the perfect person to take the Temple football program to the next level. He is an outstanding recruiter and in his six years at Temple was responsible for bringing many of the players that helped the program win its first bowl in 32 years. He is one of the top young minds in the profession, and has a total understanding of the game. And clearly he is someone who loves Temple, and is already ingrained into the Temple community."
Rhule played at Penn State and has 14 seasons of college coaching experience.