July 16, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Temple has announced a two-year contract extension for head men's basketball coach Fran Dunphy that will keep the Owls' mentor at the University through the 2013-14 season. Dunphy, who is in his third season directing the Temple program, guided the Owls to the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"We knew when we hired Fran Dunphy two years ago that he was the right man to lead Temple basketball," Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw said. "Now I am even more pleased to be able to tell the Temple community that he will be leading the program for at least the next six years. We could not have a better person, nor a better coach, at the helm."

In his two years at Temple, Dunphy has brought the Owls back into the national spotlight. Named the 2008 Eastern College Coach of the Year, Dunphy guided the Cherry and White to a 21-13 overall mark in 2007-08, his second season, including the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2000-01 season.

One of the most respected coaches in the nation, Dunphy owns a 343-194 overall record over his 19-year coaching career. Prior to his arrival at Temple, he posted a school-record 310 wins in 17 years at the University of Pennsylvania. He led Penn to nine NCAA bids, 10 Ivy League titles, nine 20-win seasons and three Philadelphia Big 5 City Series titles.