Post by aggiejazz on Dec 30, 2007 23:34:54 GMT -5
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."
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."