On Sunday morning, reports began to surface that former Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong was set to become the new USF football coach. Hours later, the news has been confirmed.
USF officially announced Strong as its next head coach, replacing Willie Taggart who left to accept the job at Oregon.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Charlie, his wife, Vicki, and their children Tory, Hailee and Hope, back to the state of Florida and to our Bulls family,” USF Director of Athletics Mark Harlan said in a statement.
“Charlie is a tremendous leader and mentor for our student-athletes and a widely-respected coach with a resume full of achievements at the highest levels of college football. He combines a drive to win with great integrity and deep, long-standing connections in the state of Florida. The future of USF football is very bright under his direction.”
Strong becomes the fourth head football coach in USF program history.
The hiring also marks Strong’s return to the state of Florida, where he spent 15 seasons with the Florida Gators, including two national championship runs alongside Urban Meyer. Strong has served under the likes of Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz and Meyer throughout his career.
“I would like to thank President Genshaft and Mark Harlan for their confidence and belief in me,” Strong said. “I am humbled that we have a shared commitment to take this university and this football program to even greater heights. Some of the best football talent in the country is right here in the Bay Area and throughout the state of Florida, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with the young men in the USF football program and build on the strong foundation already in place.”
USF will finish off its 2016 campaign against South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field on Dec. 29. The Bulls will take the field under the direction of interim head coach T.J. Weist
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