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FAMU promotes interim football coach James Colzie III to lead Rattlers as new head coach
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- 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.
Nearly four weeks after Willie Simmons resigned , the program announced Saturday that it removed James Colzie III's interim title and appointed him the Rattlers' new head coach.
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Colzie replaces Simmons, who spent six seasons leading the Rattlers before departing 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."
His salary and the terms of his contract were not announced.
FAMU hired search firm Renaissance Search and Consulting and assembled a search committee that included a representative from university-affiliated organizations after open discord erupted among FAMU stakeholders regarding the search under Sykes.
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Sykes had initially interviewed and recommended Shawn Gibbs of Division II Fort Valley State to replace Simmons. Sykes' decision was met with criticism , and Gibbs renewed his contract to remain at Fort Valley State.
Eddie Jackson , president of the 220 Quarterback Club and a member of the search committee, told the Tallahassee Democrat Colzie was his top choice.
"The players seem to love him," Jackson said. "I like the fact he has been with coach Simmons and was part of the FAMU Celebration Bowl national championship. Hopefully, they can keep this thing going."
Colzie, a Miami native and former two-sport athlete at Florida State , was among 45 applicants who applied for the vacancy.
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"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 ."
Simmons was thrilled for Colzie.
"His track record as a leader of men in the many roles he's served throughout his extensive coaching career will bode him well," Simmons told the Democrat in a text message Saturday.
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"FAMU football is in good hands with Colzie at the helm, and I know Rattler Nation will support him just as they did me during my tenure."
Colzie, a former Seminole football and baseball player, joined the Rattlers staff in 2022 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 championships last December.
Throughout the search process, FAMU football players advocated for Colzie to become the team's permanent head coach.
"We have some direction now," returning FAMU quarterback Junior Muratovic told the Democrat Saturday. "We are ready to get back to work. Coach Colzie has been locked in 100 percent. We know he's committed."
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Rattlers running back and Celebration Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player Kelvin Dean Jr. also served on the search committee.
"The 2023 Celebration Bowl Champions have already started the work to duplicate last season's success," Colzie said. "My job will be to surround these incredible young men with an outstanding coaching staff to ensure a great student-athlete experience while on the Highest of Seven Hills.
"FANGS UP!"
Hubbard, who led the Rattlers to the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA Championship in 1978 and has continued to reside in Tallahassee, was also glad to see the search ended with a familiar face as the Rattlers' head coach.
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"I was afraid, to be honest, we were going to let too many people who had the magic formula get away," Hubbard told the Democrat Saturday night. "I pull hard for [FAMU]. I think they did a magnificent job this season; the whole staff did. But I am glad we got [Colzie] hired.
"I wish we could have done it sooner."
Here's some quick facts about new FAMU head football coach James Colzie III
Florida A&M interim football coach James Colzie III is interviewed by Vaughn Wilson as the Rattlers are celebrated for winning the HBCU Celebration Bowl at the Al Lawson Center, Friday, January 12, 2024.
Colzie enters the FAMU head coaching job with 23 years of coaching experience.
Additionally, he head coached the St. Mary's University Huskies for seven years from 2016 to 2022, finishing with a 23-19 record, according to his FAMU Athletics profile. He also led the SMU Huskies to two Atlantic University Sport championship appearances in 2018 and 2019.
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Colzie was a late addition to the Rattlers' staff in 2022, joining the team in the summer of 2022 to coach the cornerbacks.
This past year, Colzie oversaw All-American cornerback Kendall Bohler and All-SWAC cornerback Eric Smith .
Colzie's cornerbacks helped FAMU associate head coach and head coach of the defense, Ryan Smith's 'Dark Cloud Defense,' finish second in Football Championship Subdivision total defense in 2023.
FAMU's football season begins on Aug. 24 against Norfolk State in Atlanta's MEAC/SWAC Challenge .
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Rattlers announces interim coach as new head coach
