Oregon hires USF’s Taggart as coach
Willie Taggart has become known for rebuilding programs at Western Kentucky and South Florida. His next endeavor will be much more high-profile, trying to turn around the struggling Oregon Ducks.
Oregon announced Wednesday it hired Taggart to take over following a disappointing 4-8 season and the dismissal of coach Mark Helfrich.
Taggart has been coach at USF for the past four seasons, guiding the team from a 2-10 record his first year to a 10-2 mark this year and a spot in the Birmingham Bowl.
Before he arrived in Tampa, he spent three seasons at his alma mater, Western Kentucky, inheriting a winless program he turned around with back-to-back winning seasons.
“Willie places an emphasis on ensuring a positive student-athlete experience and on winning, and his previous stops have proven his success at both,” Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens said in a statement. “We have a very bright future under his leadership.”
A news conference to formally introduce Taggart was set for today.
Tag g ar t , 40, i s t he f i r s t coach Oregon has hired from outside the program since 1976. The Ducks’ previous three coaches, Mike Bellotti, Chip Kelly and Helfrich, were all Oregon assistants who were promoted.
Taggart will also be the first African-American head football coach at Oregon. The length and terms of his contract with the Ducks were not immediately released.
“O r e g o n h a s a s t r o n g n a t i o n a l p r e s e n c e a n d a proud recent history of playing among the nation’s elite, and I look for ward to the challenge of upholding the excellence,” Taggart said in a statement. “I can’t wait to get started.”
USF announced that co-offensive coordinator T.J. Weist will be interim coach for the 25th-ranked Bulls in the Birmingham Bowl against South Carolina.
Stanford’s McCaffrey will skip senior year
After gaining more than 6,000 yards the past t wo seasons, setting an NCAA record and finishing as the runner-up last year in the Heisman Trophy balloting, Chr i s t i a n McCaff re y was ready for his next challenge.
Mc C a f f r e y a n n o u n c e d Wednesday that he will make himself eligible for next year’s draft.
“I’m ready,” he said. “My body is in the position it needs to be in to go out there and play at the next level. I’ve had some success in my college career.”
McCaffrey, son of longtime NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey, talked extensively with his father and other family members, as well as coach David Shaw, before making his decision. He announced it in a long statement on Stanford’s website titled “My Next Step” before holding a news conference.
McCaffrey said he made the announcement now so the decision wouldn’t overshadow Stanford’s upcoming Sun Bowl appearance against North Carolina on Dec. 30. McCaffrey said he plans to return to school to get his degree.
Noteworthy
Matt Rhule was introduced a s t he new Bayl o r c o a c h Wednesday. Rhule leaves Temple after leading the Owls to consecutive 10-win seasons. “When the call came to come here, we came,” Rhule said. ... Alabama backup quarterback David Cornwell says he is transferring. The redshirt sophomore announced his decision Wednesday in a Twitter post and it wasn’t immediately known if the little-used backup will remain with the team through the playoffs. ... LSU and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda have wrapped up details of a new contract worth nearly $6 million over the next three seasons. ... San Jose State hired Ore gon St ate assi st ant Brent Brennan as its head football coach. Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier announced Wednesday that Brennan will replace the fired Ron Caragher as coach of the Spartans. Brennan was an assistant coach at San Jose State from 2005-10 and spent the past six seasons as wide receivers coach at Oregon State.