Spectrum Sports has confirmed that University of South Florida head football coach Willie Taggart will be the next coach at the University of Oregon. ESPN's Brett McMurphy was the first to report the news early Wednesday morning.
- Reports: USF coach Willie Taggart to take Oregon head coaching job
- Taggart led USF to 10-2 record this season and Top 25 ranking
- Taggart's recruiting and wide open offense has been coveted at larger schools
At USF since 2012, Taggart's recruiting and wide open offense has been coveted at larger schools since his Bulls have increased their win total in each of his seasons. Mark Helfrich was fired last week after four seasons at Oregon, going 4-8 this past year.
The Bulls went 10-2 this year and a re currently No. 25 in the AP Top 25. The Bulls are playing South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl.
USF won two games during Taggart's first season.
That increased to four and then eight before this year's program-first 10-win season.
Taggart was previously the head coach at Western Kentucky and also served as an assistant coach at Stanford.
USF has not responded to the reports.
Among the names mentioned as possible replacements are Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, ex-Texas coach Charlie Strong, Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, FSU co-offensive coordinator Lawrence Dawsey, Alabama offensive line coach (and ex FIU coach) Mario Cristobal and USF co-offensive coordinator T.J. Weist.