Temple Basketball: Aaron McKie formally introduced as head coach

Temple Basketball introduced Aaron McKie as head coach on Tuesday.

Only the fifth head Temple basketball coach since 1952, Aaron McKie was formally introduced to fans and media on Tuesday. McKie officially began his tenure as head coach after the Owls‘ loss in the NCAA Tournament earlier in March, and had his first chance, with his players, family, and many of his mentors in the audience, to address the Temple community in that capacity.

"“Temple was my dream school to play basketball at, and now I’m standing here with my dream job” – Aaron McKie"

Although, as athletic director Pat Kraft reminded those in attendance at McGonigle Hall, the city of Philadelphia and the Temple community needed no introduction to Aaron or his resume; the press conference took place in the same gym McKie played in two public league high school championship games with Simon Gratz High School, starred for three seasons as a player under John Chaney, and continued to work out during his NBA career.

“What an incredible moment for me”, a clearly emotional McKie opened his portion of the press conference with. After recognizing Fran Dunphy and his influence on McKie’s career, he began to cry after addressing his high school coach, Bill Ellerbee.

"“You gave me discipline, and you showed me tough love. You put me in the race of life, and you taught me how to be a leader every day. And I know it wasn’t an easy job, because I was a difficult kid to deal with… But I thank you.” – Aaron McKie to Bill Ellerbee"

Aaron McKie, Philadelphia through-and-through, embodying the hard-working, blue collar mentality of the public upbringing he had all the way through his senior year at Temple, was unapologetically genuine on Tuesday. “I’m brutally honest”, McKie said shortly before being pulled away from reporters for a photo opportunity with his family and coaches Dunphy and Chaney. “I’m transparent, I’ll tell you the truth, and I’d expect you to do the same with me… I don’t like to “BS” people, I like to be honest”.

"“Coach (Chaney) would always say to me ‘how you start is how you finish’. I started in this place as a winner, and my intentions are to finish as one” – Aaron McKie"

And part of that brutal honesty McKie delivered on Tuesday? “We had a practice yesterday, and I told them, the goal is to win a national title. Not to come in here and put on a practice uniform and say, ‘hey, look at me, I play for Temple University’. We play to win.

So, every time we step out on the floor and we’re competing, we’re playing to win with the national title in the back of our mind”.