The University of South Florida has named an interim football coach following the resignation of Willie Taggart.

  • T.J. Weist named interim football coach for USF
  • Head coach, Willie Taggart, announced his resignation
  • Weist will remain interim coach through 2016 season

T.J. Weist, one of the co-offensive coordinators, has been selected as the interim football coach for the rest of the 2016 season. 

“We are pleased to announce that T.J. Weist, one of our co-offensive coordinators, will be our interim football coach for the rest of the 2016 season,” said USF Director of Athletics Mark Harlan. “We will work quickly, but with careful thought and discussion to find our next football coach. We have the outstanding support of our community, and are confident that we’ll soon find the best and most qualified coach to lead our football program. I want to thank Willie Taggart for the leadership, energy, and excitement he brought to our program over the last four years.  The achievements of our football program both on and off the field speak for themselves.  We wish Willie and his family the very best.”

Head coach, Taggart, announced his resignation Wednesday morning, Dec. 7, after a record-breaking season. 

The 10-2 Bulls posted program records with 10 regular season wins and seven conference victories. USF finished the regular season in the Top 25 rankings for the second time in program history.  

“We are very proud of our record-setting football season,” said USF System President Judy Genshaft. “We now have the foundation of our football program in place. We have a terrific group of student athletes who are laser-focused on the Birmingham Bowl and next year’s season.  We wish Coach Taggart well.”  

USF will represent the American Athletic Conference in the Birmingham Bowl vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks of the SEC on Thursday, Dec. 29 in Birmingham, Ala.

USF Board of Trustees Chair Brian Lamb said, “The trajectory of USF Athletics is strong.  It has elevated the spirit of our campuses as well as our national profile. I know that the young men in our football program will continue to be highly successful on the field and in the classroom.”

The university will immediately begin a national search for a new head football coach.