PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Day, who spent the 2005 season as offensive graduate assistant coach at the University of Florida, has been named to the football staff by Temple head coach Al Golden. Day will work with the Owls' offense, coaching either the tight ends or wide receivers.
"Ryan Day joins our staff after serving as a graduate assistant for one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football, Urban Meyer," said Golden. "Seldom have I heard coach (Tom) O'Brien and coach (Dana) Bible (offensive coordinator at Boston College) give such glowing recommendations on a coaching candidate. After spending the last three weeks in the trenches with Ryan, it is easy to see why. I knew when I got the job here at Temple that Ryan would be someone I would want to have on our team. He is bright, energetic, articulate and an outstanding communicator. He has already established himself around the beltway (Baltimore-Washington) as an excellent recruiter and will continue to be a great ambassador for Temple Football."
Florida, currently ranked 16th by the Associated Press and 18th in the USA Today coaches poll, plays Iowa in the Outback Bowl on January 2 in Tampa, Fla. The Gators posted an 8-3 regular season record with Day assisting the offense. Junior wide receiver Chad Jackson was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, ranking sixth nationally in receptions per game (7.36).
Day arrived in Gainesville after spending the 2003 and 2004 seasons as the offensive graduate assistant coach at Boston College. With the Eagles, Day worked with the wide receivers and helped the team to a 9-3 overall record in 2004 and a No. 21 ranking in the final AP and ESPN/USA Today polls. Boston College was the only Big East team ranked in the final Top 25 in the ESPN/USA Today poll after defeating North Carolina, 37-24, in the Continental Tire Bowl. The ranking was the highest for the school since 1993 and senior wide receiver Grant Adams earned All-Big East accolades. In 2003, the Eagles posted an 8-5 overall mark and defeated Colorado State, 35-21, in the San Francisco Bowl.
Day was the tight ends coach at his alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, in 2002. A three-year starter at quarterback and team captain as a senior in 2001, Day held four UNH passing records upon graduation, including best passing percentage in a career (59.9, 1997-2001) and touchdown passes in a career (53). His 653 career completions is seventh best in Atlantic 10 Conference history.
Born March 12, 1979, Day is a native of Manchester, N.H and earned his undergraduate degree in business administration in 2002 before receiving a master's of science in administrative studies at Boston College in 2004. He was the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year at Manchester Central High School in 1996.
Day is the seventh assistant named to Golden's staff, joining George DeLeone (offensive coordinator), Mark D'Onofrio (defensive coordinator), Bob Bicknell (offensive line), Jeff Nixon (running backs), Mike Siravo (recruiting coordinator/defensive assistant) and James Willis (defensive assistant).
