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20 years of USF football: Ranking the coaches (w/video)

 
South Florida Bulls head coach Willie Taggart and his team celebrate their victory over the UCF Knights at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando on Thursday, November 26, 2015. The USF Bulls celebrate defeating the UCF Knights 44-3.
South Florida Bulls head coach Willie Taggart and his team celebrate their victory over the UCF Knights at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando on Thursday, November 26, 2015. The USF Bulls celebrate defeating the UCF Knights 44-3.
Published July 22, 2016

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

Jim Leavitt

Times files

Jim Leavitt

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

Willie Taggart

JIM DAMASKE | Times

Willie Taggart

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

Skip Holtz

Times files

Skip Holtz

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.