Willie Taggart wife, family, age, salary, now

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<h2>Early Life and High School Career</h2>

<p>Willie Taggart was born on August 27, 1976, in Palmetto, Florida. He attended Bradenton Manatee High School, where he excelled on the football field. As a senior, Taggart earned first-team All-State and All-Conference honors, establishing himself as one of the top high school quarterbacks in Florida.</p>

<h2>College Career at Western Kentucky University</h2>

<p>Following graduation, Taggart enrolled at Western Kentucky University, where he played quarterback from 1995 to 1998. He became one of the university’s most accomplished players, earning recognition as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which honors the top offensive player in NCAA Division I-AA football.</p>

<h2>Early Coaching Experience and Mentorship</h2>

<p>After completing his playing career, Taggart remained at Western Kentucky as an assistant coach under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Harbaugh">head coach</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Harbaugh">Jack Harbaugh</a>. His early coaching years were instrumental in building his understanding of football strategy and leadership. In 2006, Taggart joined the coaching staff at Stanford University as running backs coach under <a href="/biography/jim-harbaugh">head coach</a> <a href="/biography/jim-harbaugh">Jim Harbaugh</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Harbaugh">Jack</a>'s <a href="/biography/jim-harbaugh">son</a>, further expanding his experience at the collegiate level.</p>

<h2>Head Coaching Journey</h2>

<p>Taggart returned to Western Kentucky in 2010 as the head coach, marking the beginning of his head coaching career. In 2012, he accepted the head coaching position at the University of South Florida (USF), where he led the program until 2016. During his tenure, USF experienced notable improvement and increased national attention.</p>

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<h2>Leadership at Oregon and Florida State</h2>

<p>In 2016, Taggart became the head coach at the University of Oregon. His hiring was significant, shining a spotlight on the limited number of Black head coaches in major college football programs. After just one season at Oregon, Taggart was named head coach at Florida State University in 2017, becoming the school’s first permanent Black head coach. His appointment was a landmark moment in the institution's history and broader conversations around diversity in coaching.</p>

<h2>Legacy and Continued Influence</h2>

<p>Willie Taggart's journey from standout college quarterback to prominent head coach reflects a career defined by perseverance, leadership, and breaking racial barriers in collegiate athletics. Although his time at Florida State was met with mixed results, his impact on the sport—particularly with respect to opportunity and representation—remains significant within the landscape of college football.</p>

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