Weist named interim coach as USF begins search for replacement
With former USF football coach Willie Taggart on his way to Oregon of the Pac-12 after being hired as the Ducks head coach Wednesday morning, USF is left to find a new head coach while still staying focused on its date with the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29.
The school released a statement Wednesday afternoon in which Director of Athletics Mark Harlan said co-offensive coordinator T.J. Weist will serve as the team’s interim coach for the upcoming bowl game.
Harlan added that the Bulls will “work quickly, but with careful thought and discussion to find a new football coach.”
Weist, who has been a receivers coach for eight different schools in his career, was also chosen as interim coach of the UConn Huskies in 2013 when Paul Pasqualoni was fired midseason. Weist finished the season 3-5 and was replaced by current Huskies coach Bob Diaco.
While the Bulls will wind up not winning a bowl under Taggart, a win in Birmingham would be the first postseason win for USF since beating Clemson 31-26 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2010.
It will seemingly be a brief stint as head coach for Weist once again in his career, as breaking reports suggest USF is already looking into replacement candidates.
Brett McMurphy reported Wednesday evening that sources have told ESPN that USF’s top candidates so far are Rich Bisaccia, Lawrence Dawsey, Lane Kiffin, Les Miles, Greg Schiano and Charlie Strong.
More Stories
The Oracle needs your help
Dear reader: Reporters for USF’s award-winning student newspaper, The Oracle, have recently navigated through a pandemic, a rapidly evolving political climate and a change in university president – all with the goal of sharing important news and stories. Though The Oracle has been an integral part in keeping the USF community informed since 1966, we […]
COLUMN: Cherish the press box moments
I still remember standing at mid-field as USF Football celebrated its Boca Raton Bowl win over Syracuse. Picture this scene: The crowd rushes to the field to surround the team and catch a glimpse of the Boca Raton Bowl trophy. “Go Bulls” echoed throughout the stadium, and green and gold confetti was everywhere. I soaked […]
Here’s how these undrafted USF football players’ careers turned out
Ahead of Thursday’s NFL Draft, many players wait in anticipation to hear their names called in the first round. For some, it’s an instant ticket to stardom. But being selected on the first day of the draft isn’t the only route to a successful career. Fifteen former undrafted NFL players are enshrined in the NFL […]
Column: USF men’s basketball, thanks for the fun season
This is a personal column about assistant sports editor Noah Vinsky’s first-hand experience covering men’s basketball. Sports have always run in my blood. Growing up, ESPN was nearly on a constant loop on my living room television. I came to USF knowing I wanted to be a writer. The Oracle seemed like a great place […]
USF’s Mindy McCord builds culture of “family and love” into lacrosse
At 23 years old, a career in coaching was not what Mindy McCord had envisioned. After a stint playing for one of the top field hockey teams in Australia following a successful college playing career, she returned to America. McCord was on track to earn a master’s degree in counseling at Virginia Tech while coaching […]
USF campus ministers offer perspective on stadium development: ‘Exciting benefit of exposure.’
Take a tranquil stroll down Sycamore Drive. It’s a quieter part of campus, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of USF. It’s home to an area colloquially known as “Religious Row,” a collection of on-campus religious organizations. In just a few years – with the construction of an on-campus football stadium – the […]