Bill Hayes and Joe Taylor, Together at FAMU

[aggiejazz]

It's official: Joe Taylor signs to coach FAMU
Departs Hampton University after 16 seasons
BY MARTY O'BRIEN | 247-4963
9:37 PM EST, December 30, 2007

HAMPTON - Joe Taylor's long and successful tenure as Hampton University football coach is over. Taylor, HU's football coach the past 16 years, said Sunday that he has signed a contract to become the new head coach at Florida A&M.

A report published Saturday cited a source as saying Taylor had accepted the FAMU job. Taylor did not confirm the report until Sunday because he had not signed a contract.

FAMU will introduce Taylor as its coach during a press conference today. Taylor succeeds Rubin Carter, who was fired Nov. 20, three days after the Rattlers finished the 2007 season with a 3-8 record.

Taylor interviewed last week for the vacant coaching position at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C. He said that the FAMU job was more attractive for several reasons.

"I'll be getting a significant raise and you always want to be in position to better your family," Taylor said.

"I think that both programs (Florida A&M and Western Carolina) have a chance to win, but Florida A&M has a chance to win sooner. I felt good about Western Carolina's commitment, but in the final analysis I'll have a few more resources at FAMU.

"I'm really looking forward to reuniting with Bill Hayes (FAMU's athletic director) and continuing to coach in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. I'm not moving, I'm just expanding the neighborhood."

Hayes, the former coach at North Carolina A&T and Winston-Salem State, served on Taylor's staff in a black college all-star game during the 1980s. Hayes became FAMU's athletic director in early December and helped convince Taylor to take the Rattlers football job.

Taylor is the winningest coach in Hampton University history.

He compiled a 136-49-1 record, guiding the Pirates to five MEAC and three CIAA titles. His 197-78-4 record, in 25 years as a head coach, is third best among active Football Championship Subdivision coaches.

Hampton University announced Saturday that Jerry Holmes will succeed Taylor as the Pirates' head coach.
Holmes served as Taylor's assistant at HU for seven seasons, the past three as defensive coordinator.

Taylor applauded the choice.

"That's one of the positives of my move to FAMU," Taylor said. "Who knows if Jerry Holmes would've become the head coach at Hampton otherwise. He'll do a great job.

"I'll leave so many great memories at Hampton: the championships; the victories, galvanizing Pirate Nation. But most of all it was working with so many great people. I'm so happy that all of us made it work together."

Taylor said he has not hired any assistant coaches at FAMU.

He added that he has received numerous phone calls from coaches hoping to join his staff since word surfaced that he would accept the FAMU job. Taylor faces a rebuilding chore at FAMU, which won consecutive MEAC titles in 2000 and '01. The Rattlers made a difficult transition to Division I-A (in 2003) but returned to I-AA a year later.

Two years ago they were placed on NCAA probation for rules violations. Their record the past four seasons is 19-25.

Taylor revived a Hampton program that was 2-9 the season (1991) before he became coach.

"It's going to be a challenge, but anyone worth their salt is up for a challenge," Taylor said. "It's time to restore FAMU to its historic winning tradition. "I just hope I have one more resurrection in me."

[Aggie One]

I guess everyone wants to retire rich in Florida these days.

[AggieGroove]

Don't be surprised to see George Small at FAMU with JoeTaylor....

[truthseeker]

don't be surprised to see famu dominate like in the days of jake gaither....!!!!!!!!!!!

[krazykev]

Joe Taylor's contract will be for five (5) years at a salary of $225,000, plus a $12,000 housing allowance

[Bigboy]

Where is FAMU getting all this money??? I thought they were on some type of probation!!!!

[DOOMS]

At this rate they will be again. The funny thing is just as we didn't have to offer the amount we offered to Fobbs FAMU didn't have to offer Taylor all that money. My guess is they just had to outbid WCU.

[DECKS]

I'm guessing Taylor didn't tell FAMU that Harvey had already closed the door.

[Aggie One]

They don't mind going into debt when it comes to football as witnessed when Joe was there. But I'm not so quick to believe that this move may be as successful as everyone assumes it will be.

FAMU is a much different culture than Hampton in terms of fans, capabilities, and access to a myriad of things in athletics. Taylor has had it fairly easy at Hampton for many moons. FAMU will not give him any grace period given his past success as a head coach and no one knows what kind of relationship will develop between he, Hayes, and Ammons.

Keep in mind that Taylor always had a direct pipeline to Harvey whenever he wanted it. Hayes developed that with Ammons and Broadway pretty much learned how to coach from Hayes after he set him up with plenty of talent and then basically hiring his second staff for him because Broadway struggled badly his first year on his own.

The dynamics with Taylor coming in is now much different than it was at NCCU in 2003 and how those two will co-exist with each other when there is a difference of opinion does arise regarding the FAMU football program will play out remains to be seen. Also remember that Taylor himself was a AD or a while so their are no surprises that can pulled if a disagreement arises.

Both are legends, both have large egos, and anytime you mix those two factors there is always a possibility of volatility.

I may be wrong but I've seen this type of joining of forces in the regular business world that failed to acheive the the level of success that was expected and to be wary of too many heavywieghts getting together in one room and expecting them to agree on only one voice and one direction at the top.

I may very well be wrong but the track record for this type of merger is not very good and normally doesn't last very long.

[Bigboy]

It will be interseting to watch it all play out!! Has anyone heard how the FAMU fans and alums feel about the hiring of Taylor? Also how they feel about the hiring of Hayes? I have not read any comments from fans or alums.

[DOOMS]

I've read plenty. They are not particularly pleased with Taylor but they know he's a good coach so they ain't exactly displeased either.

I expect Taylor to win the conference and lose in the first round right out of the gate and continue to do the same things he did at Hampton. That is, compete for the top three spots in the conference and lose in the first round of the playoffs. I expect Hayes' and Ammons' "creative economics" to catch up with them before they can eke out their first playoff victory.

[treese]

I don't know if it will work or not, but FAMU did a good job of picking a coach. A man that has won games in the CIAA & MEAC- CHAMPIONSHIPS! His RESUME speaks for it's self!!!!!

[aggypryd]

This is not good...

at least for the Aggies...

pretty good news for FAMU, MEAC and Black College Football as a whole.

The "Bar" has been raised...What are we going to do, Aggies?

[truthseeker]

this is the type of move dee todd was supose to make when she fired small... anything less... was going spell disaster... anything less... she should have never fired small....

[truthseeker]

aggie one... i've read what you said... egos could get in the way but i don't think so for 1 reason & 1 reason only... these 3 guys are on a mission & it's the same mission for each one of them... to bring famu football back to the days of dominance... as long as the financial backing is there i don't see anything standing in their way... except buddy pugh...

but like i said on another thread... if sc state failed it would be because of the assistant coaches pugh has lost... it's hard to replace good asst. coaches... & being able to offer a good salary to keep them is something taylor & hayes knows all too well... taylor lost a plenty at hampton & hayes lost a ton of them when he was coaching here....

if famu is willing to pay for top notch asst. coaches & if pugh can't solve his coaching dilemma... look for everyone else in the meac to be fighting for 2nd place....