Rhule in Action

"Matt is second only to Coach DeLeone on the staff in the number of positions he has coached and sheer knowledge of the game. He is young, energetic and unselfish. Matt has lived and recruited in Pennsylvania so he satisfies a particular recruiting need for us here in the Commonwealth. Coach Rhule brings with him over a decade of excellence in scholarship, professionalism and leadership to North Broad Street." Head Coach Al Golden

Matt Rhule, who played four seasons at Penn State and has nine seasons of collegiate coaching experience, is in his second season as an assistant coach at Temple University. After serving as defensive line coach in 2006, he now instructs the quarterbacks and serves as recruiting coordinator. He arrived in Owl Country after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Western Carolina, including three as assistant head coach.

From 2002 to 2005, Rhule was an assistant at Western Carolina under head coach Kent Briggs, serving as assistant head coach during his last three seasons. In 2005, he was offensive line coach and run game coordinator after directing the linebackers his first three years. Rhule was special teams coordinator during his tenure in Cullowhee (N.C.). In 2005, the Catamounts led Division I-AA in kickoff returns, averaging 27.44 yards per return. Sophomore Mike Malone earned first team All-Southern Conference honors with a 31.29 yards per kickoff return average, ranking second nationally. Two offensive linemen and the team's punter captured second team all-league accolades.

In 2004, WCU ranked 12th nationally in total defense and 15th in pass defense, largely due to the production of Rhule's linebacker corps. The team's top five tacklers were linebackers in its eight man front scheme. In 2003, the Catamounts led the SoCon in rush defense for the first time in school history.

Rhule arrived at Western Carolina after serving as assistant defensive line coach at UCLA in 2001. He assisted in coaching five Bruins that earned All Pac-10 honors as the team posted a 7-4 record under head coach Bob Toledo.

From 1999 to 2000, Rhule served as an assistant coach at Mid-American Conference member Buffalo, directing the Bulls defensive line in 2000 and working as assistant defensive line coach in 1999. In 2000, the team's sack total increased from 12 to 27 utilizing a 3-4 alignment. Buffalo also earned its first two Division I-A victories that season.

Rhule began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Penn State in the spring of 1998 before working at Albright College in Reading, Pa. for the 1998 season. At Albright, he coached the linebackers in a 4-3 scheme and recruited western and central Pennsylvania.

Rhule, born January 31, 1975, played four seasons at linebacker with the Nittany Lions under Joe Paterno. A three-time Penn State Scholar-Athlete, he earned Academic All-Big 10 honors in 1997.

Rhule received his undergraduate degree in political science before earning his master's degree in educational psychology from Buffalo in 2003. He is married to the former Julie Nibert. The couple has a two-year old (10/28/04) son, Bryant.

PERSONAL

Year Coaching: 10th

College: Penn State '97, B.S. Political Science; Buffalo '03, M.Ed. Educational Psychology

High School: State College (Pa.)

COACHING

Temple

2007 - Quarterbacks/Recruiting Coordinator

2006 - Defensive Line/Comunity Service Representative

Western Carolina

2005 - Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line/Special Teams/Run Game Coordinator

2003-04 - Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers/Special Teams

2002 - Linebackers/Special Teams

UCLA

2001 - Assistant Defensive Line

Buffalo

2000 - Defensive Live

1999 - Assistant Defensive Line

Albright

1998 - Linebackers

PLAYING

Penn State

1994-97 - Linebacker

BOWL EXPERIENCE

As a player (4): 1998 Florida Citrus Bowl, 1997 Fiesta Bowl, 1996 Outback Bowl, 1995 Rose Bowl