Who will lead the next chapter of FAMU football? Here are some possible early targets.

The search has begun for Florida A&M’s next head football coach to replace the departed Willie Simmons.

Simmons resigned from the Rattlers on Monday, two weeks after leading the program to its first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and HBCU Celebration Bowl wins, for Duke’s running backs coach job under head coach Manny Diaz.

FAMU assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach James Colzie III currently serves as the Rattlers’ interim head coach while the administration identifies candidates to fill Simmons’ role to become the Rattlers’ 19th full-time head coach.

Here are some possible early candidates to lead the next era of FAMU football.

Author’s Note: Unless noted otherwise, there’s no report that the candidates listed have expressed interest in Florida A&M’s head football coach vacancy.

KJ Black — Los Angeles Rams Offensive Assistant Coach

FAMU quarterback Ryan Stanley listens attentively to co-offensive coordinator/QB coach KJ Black during practice in 2019.

KJ Black spent 2019-2021 on FAMU’s coaching staff, ending as the team’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

From there, he departed from the team for the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Los Angeles Rams, where he’s now an offensive assistant.

Black, born in Jacksonville and raised in Louisville, was instrumental to former FAMU quarterback Ryan Stanley winning the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in a season that saw the signal caller break the Rattlers’ all-time passing record. Before leaving FAMU, Black identified and recruited former Rattlers quarterback Jeremy Moussa, who won the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.

Black also has SWAC ties as a player, starring at quarterback for Prairie View A&M, where he holds several passing records,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lead-next-chapter-famu-football-235103387.html

Author : Tallahassee Democrat

Publish date : 2024-01-02 23:51:03

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