Willie Taggart Bio | Wiki
Willie Taggart ( Full Name: Willie Author Taggart) is a popular American football coach who works as the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Before, Willie held the head coach position at Western Kentucky (2009 to 2012 seasons); South Florida (2013 to 2016); Oregon (2017); Florida State (2018 and part of the 2019 season); and Florida Atlantic (2020 to 2022).
At all five schools, Willie was the first African-American to be hired as the head coach. Following graduating from WKU in 1998, Willie stayed on at the school as an assistant through 2006, serving as co-offensive coordinator under Jack Harbaugh on the Hilltoppers’ 2002 Division I-AA national champions. Willie also worked alongside Harbaugh’s son Jim, who had been an unpaid certified assistant coach under his father in the final years of his NFL career.
When Jim Harbaugh was named head coach of the Stanford Cardinal football team after the 2006 season, he hired Willie as his running backs coach. Willie served in that role for the next two seasons, developing Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart into a star during that time. The younger Harbaugh also gave Willie responsibility for recruiting in Taggart’s home state of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Riverside County, California.
Willie Taggart Age
Willie was born on August 27, 1976, in Bradenton, Florida, in the United States. He is 47 years old. Willie celebrates his birthday on August 27, every year.
Willie Taggart Height
He is a man of above-average stature. Willie stands at a height of 6 ft 0 in ( Approx. 1.83m ).
Willie Taggart Family
He was born in Bradenton, Florida, the son of Gloria James and John Taggart. As a child, he would sit under a large tree at Oak Wood apartments in Palmetto and dream about making it big. Willie’s parents worked in the migrant fields, picking fruit. His dad, John, left the fields for a job at Darlene’s Shells in Palmetto. In the beginning, John cleaned shells before he became warehouse manager. John stayed in that job for 30 years, until he passed away in 2017.
Willie Taggart Wife
Willie is married to his wife Taneshia Taneshia Taggart. The two married in 1999. Willie and his wife, Taneshia, have two sons, Willie Jr. and Jackson, and one daughter, Morgan. Their son Willie Jr appeared in 18 games through three years and recorded statistics as a passer, rusher, and receiver. His biggest season came in 2022 when he played in 11 games and scored a rushing touchdown.
Willie Taggart Education
He was a prep standout at Manatee High School in Bradenton, Florida, where Willie was a first-team all-state and all-conference selection as a senior after guiding the Hurricanes to the state 5A Championship game. After high school, Wliie became a star quarterback for the Western Kentucky University (WKU) Hilltoppers from 1995 through 1998, being one of only three WKU players in the previous 50 years to be a four-year starter at the role and one of only four Hilltoppers players to have his jersey retired.
Willie Taggart Teams Coached
– Western Kentucky (2010-12).
– South Florida (2013-16).
– Oregon (2017).
– Florida State (2018-19).
– Florida Atlantic (2020-2022).
– Baltimore Ravens (2023–present).
Willie Taggart Colorado
After previously being expected to join Deion Sanders’ staff at Colorado, Willie is now the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL).
Willie Taggart Miami
Following a lackluster performance against their football rival, the University of Miami, FSU leadership reported in 2019 that head coach Willie had been fired with three games still to be played in his SECOND year.
Willie Taggart FSU | Florida State
On December 5, 2017, Willie accepted the head coaching job at Florida State, replacing Jimbo Fisher. In Willie’s first season, the Seminoles finished 5-7, their first losing season on the field since 1976, Bobby Bowden’s first year.
Following a 4-5 start to the 2019 season, Willie was fired during mid-season in November 2019. For the removal of Willie, Florida State had to pay over $20M in buyouts, including about $18M to Willie after the firing and over $4M paid to Oregon at his hiring ($3M to end his contract with Oregon and an additional $1.3M that Oregon still owed South Florida for hiring Taggart away in 2016).
Willie Taggart Coaching Record | Record
His overall coaching record is 71-80.
Willie Taggart Fau
On December 11, 2019, two days following Lane Kiffin’s resignation as head football coach at Florida Atlantic University and accepted the head coaching position at Ole Miss, Florida Atlantic reported the hiring of Willie as the school’s next head coach. The 5-year contract was to pay Willie $750,000 annually with a $3M buyout if he leaves before December 1, 2022.
On November 26, 2022, Willie was fired by Florida Atlantic after a 32–31 overtime loss to Western Kentucky. He only went to one bowl game during his tenure with the Owls, a 25-10 loss to the Memphis Tigers in the Montgomery Bowl in his first season, which was 2020.
Willie Taggart Oregon
On December 7, 2016, the University of Oregon announced Willie as the Ducks’ new head coach, replacing the fired Mark Helfrich. Willie’s hiring at Oregon drew attention to the low number of African-American head coaches in major college football (14 out of 128 schools). The hiring came many years after Oregon passed House Bill 3118, which requires state-funded schools to interview qualified minority candidates for top coaching and athletic administration positions.
Oregon went 7-5 overall and 4-5 in the Pac-12 in 2017 with Willie at the reins. Additionally, the Ducks lost The Las Vegas Bowl to Boise State on December 16 with Mario Cristobal at the helm after Willie accepted the position at Florida State.
Coach Willie Taggart
He is a football coach who has served as the head coach at Florida State, Oregon, South Florida, and Western Kentucky. Willie has the distinction of being the first African-American head football coach hired at each of those schools. Early in his coaching career, he was Stanford’s running backs coach for three seasons (2007-09), overseeing a physical rushing attack that was one of the best in the country.
Willie was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in each of his last two seasons as a college football player. He has been the first Black head coach at five different college programs – Western Kentucky (2010-12), South Florida (2013-16), Oregon (2017), Florida State (2018-19), and Florida Atlantic (2020-2022).
Willie Taggart FSU Buyout | Buyout
Florida State agreed to pay Willie $4.25 million annually through January 31, 2024. His buyout included an offset clause that reduced the owed amount by any money the coach earned in a new job. Willie earned $750,000 per year over the life of his 5-year deal, knocking FSU’s bill down to $3.498 million.
Willie Taggart Ravens
On February 22, 2023, Willie was hired as the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
Willie Taggart News
In 2022, Florida Atlantic University fired head coach Willie after three seasons.
Willie Taggart Record At FSU | FSU Record
He has a 9-12 record over two seasons leading Florida State’s program.
Willie Taggart Contract | FSU Contract
He signed a six year contract with FSU which agreed to pay Willie $4.25 million annually through January 31, 2024. Willie was to receive 85 percent of his annual salary if terminated by FSU without cause (NCAA violations, etc,).
Willie Taggart Oregon record
He had a winning record at just one of those stops; Willie was 7-5 in his lone season at Oregon.
Willie Taggart Salary
He earns a satisfying amount from his work as the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens. Willie’s average salary is $5 million per year.
Willie Taggart Net Worth
Willie has worked as a football coach since 1999. Therefore, he has accumulated a decent fortune over the years. Willie’s net worth is $25 million.
Where is Willie Taggart Coaching
In 2023, The Baltimore Ravens hired longtime college coach Willie to oversee their running backs, the team announced Wednesday.
Where Is Willie Taggart Now
He is in his first NFL season as the Ravens’ running backs coach.
Where Is Willie Taggart Coaching Now
Willie is the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL).
Where Does Willie Taggart Coach
He works as the running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
Willie’s Social Media Handles
Instagram – realcoachtaggart
Twitter – @CoachTaggart