FAU fires football head coach Willie Taggart after three seasons
Taggart leaves FAU with a 15-18 record, including 3-13 on the road.
Willie Taggart speaking to the team after the 2022 Spring Game on April 9, 2022.
November 26, 2022
Florida Atlantic University fired football head coach Willie Taggart Saturday night, hours after a 32-31 loss to Western Kentucky University.
“It was a difficult decision, as we have tremendous respect for [Taggart],” said FAU Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White in a statement. “However, the lack of on-field success needed to be addressed as we look toward the future.”
Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando will take over as interim head coach of FAU as the university begins their search process, according to a report.
Taggart finished his three-year stint in Boca Raton with an overall record of 15-18, including 3-13 on the road.
Before taking over at FAU, Taggart was the head coach of four other programs: Western Kentucky, South Florida, Oregon, and Florida State.
His first season at the helm was the high point of his tenure with the Owls. In 2020, a season shortened due to COVID-19, Taggart led the Owls to a record of 5-4 and an appearance in the Montgomery Bowl—his only bowl appearance at FAU.
Taggart’s second season wasn’t as successful. After an up-and-down start to the 2021 season that left them 5-3 and in contention for an appearance in Conference USA Championship, the Owls fell apart. FAU lost their final four games of the season, by a combined margin of 137-63, to finish the season 5-7.
This year, Taggart’s third and final season at FAU, the Owls found themselves in a similar situation. Despite a disappointing start to the season, FAU had the opportunity to clinch bowl eligibility with a single win following a 52-17 blowout win over rival FIU that left them at 5-5.
However, the Owls proceeded to drop two straight games to miss a bowl game for the second consecutive season. First to Middle Tennessee by a score of 49-21 on Nov. 19, then again to Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, which appeared to be Taggart’s final straw.
“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,” White said in the statement.
Cameron Priester is the Sports Editor for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @PriesterCameron
Ted • Nov 28, 2022 at 12:03 am
The AD needs to hop on a plane right now and go to Madison and secure the services of Jim Leonard.
Ted • Nov 26, 2022 at 11:49 pm
I really think this was a spur of the moment decision I think if They had won this game I think they would’ve brought him back next year. I think Willie Taggart is a good man unfortunately they just always seem like they were stuck in neutral his entire tenure. I hope that the Athletic Director does not hire a Power 5 coach that’s been fired, I would like to have a coach that’s ascending even if that means coming from FCS or NCAA II. I hope they take a long look at Kerwin Bell, Jamey Chadwell or Gus Bradley who I think would be amazing on the college level. FAU should be dominating CUSA with their location and facilities, they should be thriving off transfers from FSU, Miami & Florida and that does not appear to be happening.