Penn allows Temple to court Dunphy for job

Temple is one step closer to making Penn coach Fran Dunphy its new men's basketball coach.

According to a spokesman for the Penn athletic department, Athletic Director Steve Bilsky has granted the North Philadelphia school permission to interview Dunphy.

Bilsky, who is on vacation in Florida, could not be reached for comment.

Dunphy also refused to comment.

When Hall of Fame coach John Chaney resigned from his post at Temple last Monday, the Penn coach's name came up as a frontrunner for the job almost immediately.

But this move by Temple is the first concrete piece of evidence that shows the school's interest in Dunphy.

It is unclear as to whether other candidates have been contacted as well.

Others who are rumored to be in the running for the job include former Temple guard Rick Brunson (currently a player on the Houston Rockets), current Owls assistant coach Dan Leibovitz (a 1996 Penn graduate) and Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint.

Drexel officials would not comment about whether athletic director Eric Zillmer was also contacted by the Temple search committee.

Dunphy has said that he will at least listen to Temple's offer, especially because he is longtime friends with the school's athletic director, Bill Bradshaw.

The two attended La Salle together in the late 1960s, though Bradshaw is a year older. Bradshaw was also La Salle's athletic director when Dunphy was an assistant coach with the Explorers.

This is hardly the first time Dunphy has been rumored to be leaving Penn.

He has been a candidate for head coaching openings at Penn State, Georgetown, Ohio State and La Salle. He also had an opportunity to become an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs under current head coach Gregg Popovich.

And as the rumors buzz, possible replacements for Dunphy are already starting to be mentioned.

These include Lafayette coach Fran O'Hanlon, Cornell coach Steve Donahue and Siena coach Fran McCaffery -- all former Penn assistants. Brown coach Glen Miller has also been suggested as a possible replacement.

But according to The Albany Times-Union, Siena's McCaffery, a 1982 Wharton grad, may not be interested in the Penn job.

They report that he is expected to sign a long-term contract extension with the Saints sometime this week.

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