A regimen of 'Vitamin Addazio' for Temple

At 10th and Diamond, there are constant reminders that Addazio isn't in Gainesville anymore. SEPTA trains go by on an elevated track just past the northeast corner of the practice facility. Competing for attention, a condemned 11-story public housing project is being torn down across Diamond. Addazio is smart enough to embrace all this.

"I love the feel of Philadelphia. This place fits my personality," he said. "The more I'm here, the more excited I am."

Addazio knows his job now isn't to drive a particular group of players as he did at Florida, he said, but to manage and motivate the entire program. The walls in his office are purposefully spartan, he said. He's not looking to lead by slogan. ("I've seen a million slogans on T-shirts.") So far he's getting good reviews at Temple for his willingness to engage, for wanting to hear about issues and address them, not just get cc'd on e-mails.

"There are a lot of great coordinators who don't have the skill-set to be a great head coach," Addazio said. "I've seen it. Really, if you want to be a college football coach, you need to have been one of the top recruiters - because if you're a good recruiter, you're a good communicator."

Although unspoken, his goal seems straightforward, to be as good a head football coach as Louis Addazio was at teaching Asian studies. In both professions, the good ones share something. They don't need caffeine. They are the caffeine. Espresso, preferably.

"You have a presence about you," Addazio said.

A Closer Look at Steve Addazio

Age: 51

Hometown: Farmington, Conn.

Previous assistant coaching posts: Florida (2005-10), Indiana (2002-04), Notre Dame (1999-2001), Syracuse (1997-98).

Profile: Steve Addazio took over the Temple football program on Dec. 23, 2010, following the departure of Al Golden, who left the Owls after five years to become the head coach at Miami.

Addazio was offensive coordinator his last two years at Florida, including Tim Tebow's senior year. His Florida coaching career began in 2005 as tight ends coach.

Contact staff writer Mike Jensen at 215-854-4489 or mjensen@phillynews.com.