10 best college football coaching hires
By John Buhler
The Oregon Ducks made a fantastic hire in getting Willie Taggart to lead the football program in 2017 after the dumpster fire that became the Mark Helfrich era in Eugene. Taggart has become one of the best young offensive minds in Division I football.
He has succeeded at both previous head coaching stops: his alma mater at Western Kentucky (2010-12) and at South Florida (2013-16). Taggart is only 40 years old, but has this offensive strategy that should work in Eugene for a long-time.
He will go pro-style, as opposed to the up-tempo spread that was popular under Chip Kelly and Helfrich. It’ll take some time for Oregon to get the right players to Eugene, but Taggart is a phenomenal recruiter in his own right. Having Phil Knight’s backing only helps Taggart become a superstar head coach in the Pac-12.
Taggart has the chance to be a Mike Bellotti type of head coach for the Ducks. Oregon may not be a national power under Taggart, but he is the type of coach that can hang with the elite crop existing in the Pac-12 North. Taggart measures up to David Shaw, Chris Petersen, Mike Leach, Gary Andersen and Sonny Dykes. Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens knocked this hire out of the park.