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With Taggart gone, USF courts Strong

 
Charlie Strong, fired by Texas, is also reportedly attracting interest from Temple.
Charlie Strong, fired by Texas, is also reportedly attracting interest from Temple.
Published Dec. 9, 2016

TAMPA — USF spent Thursday pursuing former Texas and Louisville coach Charlie Strong for its vacancy, the Tampa Bay Times has learned.

The school's courtship of Strong, 56, occurred even as former Bulls coach Willie Taggart was being introduced as the new coach at Oregon. USF is believed to have attempted to rework the five-year, $9 million contract Taggart signed last December, with a significant salary bump included.

Taggart, who won 17 of his last 21 games as Bulls coach, received a five-year deal worth roughly $3.3 million annually at Oregon, according to published reports.

Meantime, Temple also has spoken with Strong about its vacancy, philly.com reported. Strong went 16-21 the past three seasons at Texas, but he led Louisville to a 37-15 record and four bowl appearances in the four seasons before that. He served four different stints as a Florida assistant, and he still has family residing in Lakeland.