Ranking the coaches
Okay, so the Bulls have had only three, and ranking them required nary a brain cell, but we did it anyway.
1. Jim Leavitt (1997-2009)
Career record: 95-57
Times files
Times files
The dude who dug the footers, poured the concrete and hoisted the trusses — all while working out of a trailer. A decade later, Leavitt had constructed a program that — for a few fleeting moments — was as snazzy as any on the Division I-A cul de sac. His ugly exit, and lack of a championship, still don't negate his imprint.
2. Willie Taggart (2013-present)
Career record: 14-23
JIM DAMASKE | Times
JIM DAMASKE | Times
If Leavitt did the construction, Taggart performed the reclamation. Due to feeble recruiting in the Skip Holtz era, Taggart waded into an ankle-high talent pool upon his arrival. He recruited like mad; tried plugging his personnel into a pro-style, power-run attack; went through a litany of coordinators; recruited like mad; modified his offense to suit his players; and recruited like mad. Today, the Bulls are a sexy pick to win the American Athletic Conference's East Division.
3. Skip Holtz (2010-12)
Career record: 16-21
Times files
Times files
After a splendid honeymoon, Bulls fans couldn't divorce themselves fast enough from this era. By the time of Holtz's dismissal, in the immediate wake of a 3-9 season, you could count the number of Bulls starters from Hillsborough or Pinellas County high schools on one hand.