Temple University Athletics
Temple Names Knowles, Rice and Stewart as Defensive Assistant Coaches
1.15.19 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Temple Football head coach Rod Carey announced additions to his staff today naming Jeff Knowles, Melvin Rice and Walter Stewart as assistant coaches for the defense. He will assign detailed duties once his staff is completed.
"I am excited to announce the hiring of Jeff Knowles, Melvin Rice and Walter Stewart to our defensive staff," said Carey. "Jeff runs an aggressive defense that was not just one of the best in the MAC, but one of the best in the nation last season. Individually, defensive end Sutton Smith was an All-American. Jeff, Mel and Walt know how to get the best out of their players and will continue to work together to coach an outstanding defense."
Jeff Knowles is in his 12th year of coaching having spent the last two seasons on the defensive staff at Northern Illinois University with Rod Carey.
A native of Manhattan, Illinois, Knowles played collegiately at St. Francis from 1996-2000. He began his coaching career at Providence Catholic High before a six-year stint at St. Francis. He then went to coach for N.C. State from 2014-16 before joining Carey's NIU staff in 2017.
"I'm thrilled to be joining Coach Carey here at Temple," said Knowles. "I know there is a tremendous tradition of talented defense here at Temple and we expect that to continue. I look forward to working with these talented players."
Melvin Rice worked for Carey at NIU from 2016-18. Under Rice's guidance, NIU cornerbacks produced eight interceptions in 2018 and ranked in the top 50 in passing efficiency defense. They also had six interceptions in 2016 to go with 41 pass break ups. In 2016, his star pupil, Shawun Lurry, tied the school record for interceptions in a career after making two, including a pick six in the victory at Nebraska. Lurry, a 2015 All-American, finished his career with 16 interceptions.
Rice, an NIU graduate, began his coaching career with the Huskies in 2010 as a graduate assistant. He was a member of the defensive staff at Minnesota from 2011-2014 and spent the 2015 season as cornerbacks coach at Southeast Missouri before returning to NIU.
"Having played and coached at NIU I'd be lying if I said that I am not going to miss it," said Rice. "But I am very excited to continue working with Coach Carey and Coach Knowles and working with these Temple players."
Walter Stewart comes to Temple after serving one season as defensive line coach at NIU under Carey. In 2018, NIU was second in the country with 50 sacks just behind Clemson. He also coached back-to-back All-American defensive end Sutton Smith at NIU.
Prior to NIU, Stewart spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Eastern Kentucky as the defensive line coach. In 2015, Stewart coached the defensive ends at Florida A&M. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant defensive line coach at Tennessee from 2013-2014. In his playing career, Stewart was a defensive lineman at the University of Cincinnati and was a two-time team captain.
"I've heard that the Temple defensive line has been called the 'Wildboyz' and I'm anxious to begin working with them," said Stewart. "I'm thankful that Coach Carey asked me to join him at Temple and my family and I are looking forward to living in Philadelphia."
"I am excited to announce the hiring of Jeff Knowles, Melvin Rice and Walter Stewart to our defensive staff," said Carey. "Jeff runs an aggressive defense that was not just one of the best in the MAC, but one of the best in the nation last season. Individually, defensive end Sutton Smith was an All-American. Jeff, Mel and Walt know how to get the best out of their players and will continue to work together to coach an outstanding defense."
Jeff Knowles is in his 12th year of coaching having spent the last two seasons on the defensive staff at Northern Illinois University with Rod Carey.
A native of Manhattan, Illinois, Knowles played collegiately at St. Francis from 1996-2000. He began his coaching career at Providence Catholic High before a six-year stint at St. Francis. He then went to coach for N.C. State from 2014-16 before joining Carey's NIU staff in 2017.
"I'm thrilled to be joining Coach Carey here at Temple," said Knowles. "I know there is a tremendous tradition of talented defense here at Temple and we expect that to continue. I look forward to working with these talented players."
Melvin Rice worked for Carey at NIU from 2016-18. Under Rice's guidance, NIU cornerbacks produced eight interceptions in 2018 and ranked in the top 50 in passing efficiency defense. They also had six interceptions in 2016 to go with 41 pass break ups. In 2016, his star pupil, Shawun Lurry, tied the school record for interceptions in a career after making two, including a pick six in the victory at Nebraska. Lurry, a 2015 All-American, finished his career with 16 interceptions.
Rice, an NIU graduate, began his coaching career with the Huskies in 2010 as a graduate assistant. He was a member of the defensive staff at Minnesota from 2011-2014 and spent the 2015 season as cornerbacks coach at Southeast Missouri before returning to NIU.
"Having played and coached at NIU I'd be lying if I said that I am not going to miss it," said Rice. "But I am very excited to continue working with Coach Carey and Coach Knowles and working with these Temple players."
Walter Stewart comes to Temple after serving one season as defensive line coach at NIU under Carey. In 2018, NIU was second in the country with 50 sacks just behind Clemson. He also coached back-to-back All-American defensive end Sutton Smith at NIU.
Prior to NIU, Stewart spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Eastern Kentucky as the defensive line coach. In 2015, Stewart coached the defensive ends at Florida A&M. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant defensive line coach at Tennessee from 2013-2014. In his playing career, Stewart was a defensive lineman at the University of Cincinnati and was a two-time team captain.
"I've heard that the Temple defensive line has been called the 'Wildboyz' and I'm anxious to begin working with them," said Stewart. "I'm thankful that Coach Carey asked me to join him at Temple and my family and I are looking forward to living in Philadelphia."
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