Willie Taggart Joins Florida State As the New Head Coach for Seminoles

Willie Taggart is coming back to Florida.

Willie Taggart with Oregon
Willie Taggart with Oregon in 2019. Photo by Juan Lainez/Marinmedia.Org/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (8976076br)

Willie Taggart was named FSU’s head football coach, Florida State University announced on Tuesday. He will be officially introduced by on Wednesday. According to ESPN, the former Oregon coach signed a six-year deal, worth $30 million. He will replace Jimbo Fisher as the FSU Seminoles football team head coach. Fisher recently left the Seminoles to join Texas A&M University football program.

Immediately after Fisher’s departure was announced, Taggart was singled out as the main favorite for the job. The team also interviewed University of South Florida coach, Charlie Strong.

Willie Taggart is Florida native who played as a quarterback at Western Kentucky University. After graduating, Taggart remained with the Hilltoppers football team, serving as an assistant coach in various roles. He was also a running backs coach at Stanford from 2007 to 2009, before returning to Western Kentucky, but this time as a head coach. In 2013 he left Kentucky to take the head coach position at University of South Florida. Taggart joined Oregon University in December 2016. He led the team to a 7-5 record. According to reports, Oregon wanted Taggart to remain and offered him more than $20 million over five years to stay, but he was more attracted to the opportunity to coach in Florida once again.

We thank Willie for his efforts at Oregon, and we wish him and his family all the best in the future,” – said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens in a statement.

Oregon Ducks football team, on the other hand, is now beginning the search for a new head coach. Meanwhile, assistant coach Mario Cristobal was named the interim coach. Cristobal served as team’s co-offensive coordinator, run-game coordinator, and offensive line coach. It is important to note that Taggart’s departure is already having consequences on Oregon’s football program since recruits Isaiah Bolden and Braden Lenzy said they will not enroll at the school with Taggart not being there.

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