fau willie taggart

Making the Calls

[the_ad_group id=”632″]
BOCA RATON – Willie Taggart hired co-offensive coordinators to build an offensive gameplan every week.

Once those games kick off, however, Taggart will take control of the offense.

“Game day, I call the plays,” Taggart said.

Taggart understands offense. He played quarterback at Western Kentucky before rising through the Hilltoppers coaching staff to offensive coordinator, then head coach.

As head coach Taggart called the plays at WKU, South Florida and Oregon before relinquishing those duties to offensive coordinator Walt Bell midway through his first season at FSU. Former FAU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles called the plays for FSU last season after replacing Bell on the staff, through some media reports state that Taggart began assuming more of those duties as the season progressed.

The Seminoles fired Taggart during that second season.

At FAU Taggart hired former Texas co-offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and promoted Owls’ tight ends coach Clint Trickett to be co-offensive coordinators.

“I think Clint is a good, young up-and-coming coach that understands the game, has played the game at the highest level and he does well with his players from a teaching standpoint, and can motivate his players,” Taggart said. “I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Taggart isn’t concerned about managing a dynamic that potentially places three coaches in charge of developing the offense, cautioning against obsessing over titles.

“Throughout the week our guys do a good job of putting the game plan together,” Taggart said. “We all do it together, basically.”

When Taggart takes control on Saturdays he’ll still be relying on his assistants.

“You’re calling plays but you’re also listening for suggestions and sometimes when you ask the coaches, you ask for suggestions as you’re calling plays,” Taggart said. “That’s part of it. That’s part of working together throughout the week to make sure you’re on the same page.”



FAUOwlAccess.com