FAMU promotes interim football coach James Colzie III to lead Rattlers as new head coach

Florida A&M has named its 19th full-time head football coach.

The program announced on Saturday that it’s removed James Colzie III’s interim title to appoint him as the Rattlers’ new head coach.

New FAMU head coach Colzie replaces Willie Simmons, who spent six season leading the Rattlers. Simmons resigned from FAMU on Jan. 1 to become Duke’s running backs coach.

“I am thrilled to announce Coach James Colzie Ill as our new head football coach,” FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said in a released statement. “Coach Colzie’s dedication as interim head coach and now as our permanent leader exemplifies his commitment to excellence.”

To identify Colzie, FAMU hired search firm Renaissance Search and Consulting and assembled a search committee that included a representative from university-affiliated organizations.

The Miami native Colzie beat out 45 other applicants to land the job with the Rattlers.

“I am eternally grateful to [FAMU] President Dr. Robinson and our Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes for their confidence in me,” Colzie said.

“It’s truly an honor to join names like William Bell, Jake Gaither, Rudy Hubbard, Billy Joe, and Willie Simmons to hold the illustrious title of Head Football Coach at Florida A&M, and I am ready to do my part of carrying on the tradition of this storied university as the #1 public HBCU in the country.”

Colzie, a former Florida State football and baseball player, joined the Rattlers staff under Simmons as the cornerbacks coach. Colzie added assistant head coach to his title in the 2023 season that saw FAMU win its first Southwestern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl titles last December.

Throughout the search process, FAMU football players have advocated for Colzie to become the team’s permanent head coach….

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/famu-promotes-interim-football-coach-220137739.html

Author : Tallahassee Democrat

Publish date : 2024-01-27 22:01:37

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