Fran Dunphy: Return of the ’stache

Less than a month after shaving his wildly popular and trademark mustache, Temple men’s basketball coach Fran Dunphy is growing it back, according to the university.

Dunphy had sported the mustache since 1971, but got rid of it on Oct. 6 after former Owls standout Dionte Christmas completed his degree requirements. The coach had made a promise to Christmas that he would shave and kept true to his word.

Now, Dunphy is growing it back as part of SIDEARM Sport’s “Movember,” which is cancer awareness and fundraising campaign based around growing facial hair. He’ll be joined by seven other Temple athletic staff members in this initiative.

“Anytime I can help fight this dreaded disease I will do it,” Dunphy said in a statement. “This is a great promotion spearheaded by our athletic website provider, SIDEARM Sports, and I am more than happy to lend my name, and facial hair, to the cause.”