Matt Jelley, who served as head coach of the cross country team and distance coach of the track & field team, has resigned from Temple, athletic communications confirmed Wednesday morning.

Though communications couldn’t give a reason for his resignation, last night, Jelley posted a message on Twitter to his athletes: “Thank you for always working hard. Keep it up and you will kick butt. You made me look good. Love my owl family always.”

Jelley has been with the program since 2007, when he was hired as head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams and distance coach for the men’s and women’s track and field teams.

His arrival came just two years after the lifting of a 20-year hiatus of Temple’s cross country program, and his presence during the past few seasons has been largely influential in reviving it.

-Avery Maehrer