By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Florida Atlantic Owls have fired head coach Willie Taggart on Saturday. He had led the football program for three seasons.
He was 15-18 during his tenure at the school. He never had more than five wins in a season with the Owls.
Taggart guided the program to back-to-back 5-7 seasons. He was informed of the decision following FAU’s 32-31 overtime loss to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
“This evening, we made a change in leadership with the Florida Atlantic University football program,” FAU Vice President/Director of Athletics Brian White said. “It was a difficult decision, as we have tremendous respect for Willie Taggart. He has represented FAU with class and character. However, the lack of on-field success needed to be addressed as we look toward the future. A national search will begin immediately to identify and recruit the best coach to lead FAU Football as we begin play in the American Athletic Conference next season.
“With the integrity of the search in mind, we will have no further public comment until the announcement of the Owls’ next head football coach.”
The Owls administration hoped that Taggart would keep the program successful as it was under former head coach Lane Kiffin. This news comes on the same day that news was leaked that Kiffin is going to get a massive new contract with the Ole Miss Rebels.
Taggart has struggled in his last two head coaching stops. Before becoming the Owls head coach, he went 9-12 as the Florida State Seminoles head coach.
He is 71-80 as a head coach over five stops since the 2010 season. Before accepting the Florida Atlantic job, he also served as the Hilltoppers, South Florida Bulls, Oregon Ducks, and Seminoles head coach.
He went 40-45 with the Hilltoppers and Bulls. In his next three stops, he has gone 31-35.
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