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By Beth Stibal |

FAU Owls hire new head coach after Taggart fired for “lack of on field success”

FAU-Florida Preview Football
FILE – In this Nov. 20, 2020, file photo, Florida Atlantic head coach Willie Taggart looks on during an NCAA football game against the Massachusetts in Boca Raton, Fla. The Owls are entering their second year under ex-Florida State coach Willie Taggart and first with Miami graduate transfer N’Kosi Perry at quarterback. (AP Photo/Michael Reaves, File)

(BOCA RATON, FLA) — UPDATE — Florida Atlantic University has its new head football coach, former Texas head coach Tom Herman. FAU announced on Thursday that Herman replaces Willie Taggart who was fired Saturday after three seasons leading the Owls. With a one point loss to Western Kentucky Saturday night, the FAU Owls are no longer bowl-eligible and as a result, head football coach, Willie Taggart has been fired.


Herman, 47, most recently was an offensive analyst for the Chicago Bears but most notably spent four seasons leading the Texas Longhorns between 2017 and 2020, going 32-18 in that time with four bowl victories.

Taggart became the seventh head coach for the Florida Atlantic University Owls’ in 2019 and gets the boot with a 5-7 record for the second-straight year.
Taggart’s overall record with the Owls is 15-18 over three seasons.

FAU administrators have begun their search for a new head coach with the ACC in mind. Florida Atlantic will officially become a member of the American Athletic Conference conference in July 2023.

“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.
FAU Vice President/Director of Athletics Brian White, bluntly stated the reason for Taggart’s termination is “due to the lack of wins made by the team.”

Moving to the ACC will give Florida Atlantic national exposure in top media markets facing teams from Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama. So a new head coach in needed to help the Owls face conference foes for the first time in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Oklahoma and Kansas, as well as in-state rival USF. “We look forward to welcoming our new conference opponents and their fans to beautiful Boca Raton.”

FAU-Taggart Signing Day Football
FILE – In this Jan. 12, 2019, file photo, then-Florida State head football coach Willie Taggart watches an NCAA college basketball game with his son’s Jackson and Willie, Jr. in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida Atlantic announced that quarterback Willie Taggart Jr. signed with the Owls on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, meaning he will play for his father, the new FAU coach. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser, File)