Sources close to both schools have confirmed Penn coach Fran Dunphy has been offered the head coaching job at Temple. The long-awaited news comes after a protracted search that began when Hall of Fame coach John Chaney announced his retirement at a press conference back on March 13. Immediately Dunphy was identified as the leading candidate for the job because of his relationship with Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw and his impressive track record at Penn. However, Temple interviewed a number of other candidates who had garnered support from factions of boosters, and the hiring decision had to be vetted by the Temple board of trustees and president David Adamany. Temple held its season-end basketball banquet on Friday night, and Penn’s banquet will take place on Sunday, so nothing will be announced formally before Monday.

Slant: It’s safe to take this as a sign Dunphy has agreed to take the Temple job. After a protracted search, the Temple administration can’t risk the public relations hit of being turned down by an Ivy League coach. It was a poorly kept secret on Temple’s part that no formal offer would be extended to Dunphy without the certainty of his acceptance. And after Bobby Gonzalez — who was reported to be Temple’s backup plan if Dunphy didn’t work out — accepted the Seton Hall job earlier this week, there really wasn’t an attractive alternative as far as the Owls were concerned. Those who wish to see Dunphy remain at Penn can look to the fact that he vacillated on accepting the La Salle job two years ago before eventually failing to pull the trigger on a switch of employers. However, these are very different circumstances. It’s a very smart bet that Monday will bring news of Dunphy’s departure to Temple and the official beginning of Penn’s own coaching search.