The gift from an anonymous donor is intended to elevate the program and provide the resources needed to recruit, retain and develop championship-level talent. 

Last July, K.C. Keeler, ahead of his first season as Temple’s head football coach, made it clear he has no interest in being realistic. He said that this is “not a rebuild” and that he is building an Owls program capable of winning the American Conference Football Championship and competing in bowl games sooner rather than later. A recent generous gift is helping the program move closer to those goals. 

On Feb. 12, Temple Athletics and Institutional Advancement announced that they received a transformational $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor anonymous gift to the Temple football Competitive Excellence Fund. The Competitive Excellence Fund plays a key role in strengthening the program and providing the resources needed to recruit, retain and develop championship-level talent. Temple football is rallying the Temple community to help match the $500,000 gift, which will support continued efforts to elevate Temple football and enhance its ability to compete at the highest level of college football in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. 

“We are incredibly grateful for this transformational $500,000 commitment to Temple football. This gift represents a powerful belief in the future of our program under Coach Keeler’s leadership,” said Vice President and Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz ’65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson. “This investment will enhance our ability to retain and recruit student-athletes so that we can compete for championships. We are appreciative of this leadership gift and for challenging the entire Temple football community to join in supporting the continued rise of our program.”  

The gift comes at a critical time for collegiate athletics, amid growing investment in the name, image and likeness landscape. Programs are investing in the resources necessary to recruit and retain top student-athletes while creating an environment where athletes can thrive both on and off the field. The Competitive Excellence Fund is designed to help meet those needs. Contributions to the fund directly strengthen the program’s ability to maintain long-term success, giving student-athletes the resources to excel, which can boost the university’s visibility and create experiences that benefit the broader student body. 

“Investment is critical to compete in the American Conference and the Competitive Excellence Fund allows us to do that. We just had the number one recruiting class in the conference and we also had the number one transfer class in the conference,” said Keeler. “We also didn’t lose a single starter to the portal, which is so unusual at our level. This recent gift is wonderful. We need like-minded people to do the same and continue the momentum.” 

Whether an alum, former player, season ticket holder or devoted Owls fan, members of the Temple community have a unique opportunity to play a meaningful role in transforming the next chapter of the program through the matching challenge. 

Every contribution—regardless of size—moves the initiative closer to matching the $500,000 gift and maximizing the impact of the donor’s commitment. To build on this momentum and help match $500,000 in support of Temple football, gifts can be made online.