Nov 18, 2017; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Willie Taggart walks on the field before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium. Photo Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Florida State officials planned to meet with Oregon head coach Willie Taggart on Monday about the university’s job opening, according to multiple reports.
Taggart was recruiting in Arizona on Monday morning, including an in-home visit with four-star quarterback commit Tyler Shough.
The 41-year-old Taggart, a Florida native, is the favorite to replace Jimbo Fisher, who resigned on Friday to take over as Texas A&M’s head coach.
The Seminoles have not had a face-to-face meeting with Taggart about their vacancy but have met with his agent Jimmy Sexton.
Taggart reportedly was offered a four-year, $20 million extension by Oregon over a week ago but has not signed it yet. Fisher made $5.7 million this season at Florida State.
“I’m happy,” Taggart told the Oregon media on Friday. “I’m still the coach here. I’m not addressing any of that rumor stuff.”
Taggart was hired at Oregon in December 2016 and went 7-5 in his first season after the Ducks were 4-8 the year before he arrived. He replaced Mark Helfrich after spending four seasons at South Florida, where he was 24-25 record overall after going 18-7 in his final two seasons with the Bulls.
Taggart has a 47-50 career head-coaching record at Western Kentucky (2010-12), South Florida (2013-16) and Oregon. The three schools had a combined 7-29 record the year before he was hired.
