Two candidates emerge as FSU begins search for potential new coach
Florida State isn't waiting around for Jimbo Fisher to make a final decision.
Fisher, the Seminoles' eighth-year head coach, has been offered the same position at Texas A&M. However, as of early Wednesday afternoon, he hasn't commented on the opening in College Station or whether he's staying in Tallahassee.
Since most signs now point to the 52-year old coach jumping ship, FSU's administration is moving forward with contingency plans. Warchant.com has learned that a small group of FSU decision-makers -- FSU president John Thrasher, Board of Trustees chair Edward Burr and director of athletics Stan Wilcox -- are leading the preliminary search.
And two names that have come to the forefront from those efforts are Oregon head coach Willie Taggart and Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente.
** Coaching Nuggets: Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M **
Taggart, a native of Bradenton, Fla., has been rumored to be a major candidate for a possible opening at Florida State since last week. The 41-year old coach just completed his first regular season at Oregon, finishing with a 7-5 record. During the four prior years, Taggart was the head coach at South Florida and took the Bulls from a 2-10 record in 2013 to a 10-2 mark in 2016.
Fuente just completed his second regular season as the the head coach of Virginia Tech. He began his major college coaching career as an assistant coach at TCU and then took over as offensive coordinator in 2009. He was hired by a struggling Memphis program in 2012 and, after two rebuilding years, propelled the Tigers to 10-win and 9-win seasons. He took over for the Hokies in 2016 and has received rave reviews for what he has accomplished so far in Blacksburg.
The process of hiring a new head coach will probably move very quickly considering the first ever early signing period for college football is scheduled to begin on Dec. 20. With time being of the essence in recruiting, a new coaching hire could take place as early as next week.
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