Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
FSU to aggressively seek a new head coach.
TALLAHASSEE — For the first time in 41 years, Florida State University is the market for a new head football coach.
After hiring legendary coach Bobby Bowden in 1976 and ensuring a seamless transition to Jimbo Fisher, who was offensive coordinator and coach-inwaiting before replacing Bowden in 2007, the Seminoles are tasked with finding a new head coach after Fisher bolted for Texas A&Mon Friday.
Making the situation more unique for Florida State, the program needs to replace one of four active coaches to win a national championship. Fisher led the Seminoles to the 2013 title.
FSU athletics director Stan Wilcox says he wants to move “very, very fast” while being thorough in the Seminoles’ research of potential candidates. He said he cannot knock Fisher for leaving to take college football’s richest contract, a 10-year deal worth $75 million from Texas A&M.
“I always tell everybody when you have one of the best coaches in the country, you have to expect on an annual basis that people are going to come after him. And you have to knowwhat your limits are at some point,” Wilcox said of Fisher, who received contract extensions in each of the past two seasons after drawing interest fromLSU.
“I am so happy for Coach Fisher, and he’s made history. I’m happy for him and his family.
“But Florida State has brought in some great individuals and it’s not about one person.”
Oregon coachWillieTaggart, a Bradenton native and former USF coach, is considered a top candidate. Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente and current USF coach Charlie Strong also are in the mix. The Seminoles expect other coaches currently holding jobs to express interest aswell.
Wilcox declined comment when asked about mutual interest between FSU and Taggart after the Seminoles beat LouisianaMonroe on Saturday to close the regular season.
“I won’t answer that. I can’t answer that question at this point,” Wilcox said. “I’m not talking about any candidates publicly at this time.”
Wilcox, who believes Florida State is one of college football’s “destination” jobs, FSU president John Thrasher and FSU Board of Trustees chairman Ed Burr will join him making the decision on a new coach.
Florida State would like to have an agreement reached this week to allow for recruiting ahead of the new college football early signing period starting Dec. 20.
Oregon has the nation’s No. 7 recruiting class that ranks atop the Pac-12, and the Ducks would like to hold onto their 24 committed players by keeping Taggart on board.
Florida State’s class, which has dropped to 15th nationally losing six commitments in the past week, would also need to be stabilized quickly before signing day.
A proven track record of winning, an understanding of the Florida Stateprogram and its history, the ability to be a strong recruiter within the state of Florida and being capable of being a “CEO of a major program” are among factors the Seminoles are considering in their search, Wilcox said.
“I can go on and on, but we have a laundry list of items we’re looking for in a head coach,” Wilcox said. “I knowwe’re going to be able to find the right person to lead this program.”
During this season, which saw FSU rebound froma 2-5 start to becoming bowl eligible on Saturday, Fisher’s relationships with FSU’s administration and Seminole Boosters began to deteriorate.
One of the main points of discontent was Fisher’s hopes of expediting the construction of a footballonly facility, which FSU is diligently working toward completing despite not publicly sharing a timeline for the project.