Minutes after new Temple football coach K.C. Keeler was officially introduced on the school’s campus, and just two weeks after the search for Stan Drayton’s successor, athletic director Arthur Johnson was asked Tuesday if the process this time around was different from when he hired Drayton in 2021.

K.C. Keeler, who spearheaded Sam Houston State's transition from FCS to FBS and led the Bearkats' program to a 9-3 finish this season, has been hired as Temple's coach, replacing Stan Drayton, who was fired in November after three seasons with the Owls.

With a track record of success and a deep connection to the Philadelphia area, K.C. Keeler's hiring has brought a renewed sense of optimism to a program looking to rebuild.