Zebold: Taggart 'Stepping Up to the Plate'
December 09, 2012 | Football
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - Willie Taggart went off to college nearly 20 years ago to make something of himself in football and as a man. He's returned to his home state of Florida, and boy his parents are proud of what he's become.
The former dual-threat athlete learned from some of the best in the coaching ranks and heads back to the Sunshine State as a proven commodity that's ready to make USF football proud, too.
"I raised a good one. I helped raise a good one," Taggart's father, John, said while looking at Taggart's mother at their son's introductory press conference Saturday. "I think he's a nice, intelligent young man that's got respect."
Taggart, 36, wants the Bulls to gain more respect and USF returned to the right path when it welcomed in a coach that has a history of success. He was all-state at Bradenton Manatee High School, earned All-America status as a quarterback at Western Kentucky and that's really where the story begins. Taggart seemed destined to be a solid head coach after learning from two brilliant Harbaugh minds and followed through by getting his alma mater its swagger back. WKU endured a 20-game losing streak before Taggart took over and he eventually led the Hilltoppers to 7-5 records in his last two seasons with the program.
Now he's ready to take the next step, kind of like his new program.
"I looked at it as an opportunity to do great things here, an opportunity to build something special here," Taggart said. "I always said I wouldn't leave WKU unless I had a chance to go and win a national championship and I truly believe that can get done here."
The statement might be bold, but it's a believable one considering how many prominent football figures feel he can follow through.
"Everything he's done in his entire life has shown a pattern of success. I'm really happy for Willie and for USF. Great things will happen," said 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who coached with Taggart at WKU and later added USF's new leading man to his staff at Stanford.
Several other glowing reviews are out there and perhaps the most impressive one came from a man that epitomizes respect - Tony Dungy. The former Bucs coach and current NFL super personality was USF AD Doug Woolard's trusted confidant during the coaching search and felt the Bulls were in very good hands once the official decision was made.
"He reminds me a lot of myself at that age. Not a lot of flash. Not a lot of glitter. Hey, we're not going to wow you with this, that and the other. We're going to be solid and this is what I believe in winning," Dungy said. "I could see that commitment to his style of play and I think he's going to be very businesslike and very good for those young men."
Taggart should be good for business, too, for a number of reasons. He's easily likeable, relatable to people of any age and welcomes anyone to come say, "Hi," if they see him around - especially those interested in helping him take USF to a new level.
"There is no reason for any kid in the 813, 941, 863, whatever, there is no reason for you not to come here and play football. There is no reason whatsoever," Taggart said.
Taggart is still well known in Florida and has attracted many players from the state to Western Kentucky. Now he's equipped with multi-million dollar facilities, a very supportive administration and an NFL stadium in a city "with so much to do."
"He talked about building the kind of in-state base in that corridor from Tampa to Orlando, and so I think it can be done," Dungy said. "I think it should be a really, really plum job and in talking to him, I think he feels that way, too."
Taggart certainly won't be shy about his feelings once he walks into living rooms and his personality should sit well with potential USF families. He's young enough to still seem cool to the kids and the father of two also is huge on doing things the right way, saying he wants his players to be like him and not their peers.
"I do believe discipline is the essential ingredient to success. My vision for our football program is to win multiple championships in a first-class manner," he said. "That's what we're going to be about."
The other thing Taggart said USF is going to be about goes back to what he earned after leaving Florida to become a man - respect.
"We're not going to bow down to anyone, no man or no program," he said.
It sure sounds like a person that's learned a lot since kissing his mom and dad goodbye before making a name for himself that USF fans are growing to like rather quickly.
"He's stepping up to the plate," Taggart's brother, Eddie, said.
