How to watch: FAMU BOT holds special meeting to discuss search for head football coach
Florida A&M University Vice President Athletics Director Tiffiani-Dawn Sykes is scheduled to update the university's Board of Trustees Tuesday on the her search to hire a new head football coach.
The link to the public virtual meeting at 1 p.m. is:
The Rattlers must replace Willie Simmons, who resigned Jan. 1 after six seasons and an HBCU national championship in 2023 to join Duke as its running backs coach.
While there has been growing discontent among FAMU stakeholders, alumni and fans regarding Sykes’ search to name Simmons’ successor, it now appears Sykes could promote from within the staff following Monday night's news.
Shawn Gibbs of Division II Fort Valley State had reportedly emerged as Sykes’ top candidate to replace Simmons.
Fort Valley State, however, announced late Monday that Gibbs had signed a new contract with the school.
FAMU football players have endorsed assistant coach James Colzie III named the team's interim coach by Sykes, to be named the permanent head coach.
Last week, Gibbs and Sykes received no votes of confidence from the Florida A&M National Alumni Association Executive Board.
Earlier, FAMU Boosters also requested University President Larry Robinson to suspend the search for a new football coach, saying the school's major stakeholders have been "shut out and completely left out of the room."
FAMU Boosters President Selvin Cobb told the Democrat Tuesday morning he's hopeful Sykes promotes a coach on the Rattlers' staff to replace Simmons.
"Hopefully, like coach (Rudy) Hubbard (former FAMU coach) says, you know what you have so plug a person in and let's go," Cob said. "It's a good staff, a great staff. Fill it out with what you need and let's move on."
The board also expects to hear an update from Sykes on the current state affairs of the athletics department and its annual budget.
FAMU football players endorse assistant James Colzie to be named permanent coach
FAMU football players endorsed Colzie III to be the next head coach in separate letters and meetings with FAMU leadership last week.
In an interview with the Democrat last Friday during the team's HBCU national championship celebration at the Al Lawson Center, Colzie says he and Sykes have had “multiple conversations” about him leading Rattlers football.
He says the discussions have been “favorable,” and he is hopeful he’ll be named FAMU’s 19th full-time head football coach.
“You hope at the end of the day, everyone does what’s best for Florida A&M, and I think that’s where we're headed,” Colzie said.
“When you lose a big-time figure like Coach Simmons, you want to make sure you get the right piece. I’m extremely optimistic that I’ll get the opportunity to lead our young men.”
Who is FAMU assistant coach James Colzie III?
Head Coach Willie Simmons welcomed veteran coach James Colzie III to Florida A&M in August 2022 and promoted him to associate head coach in 2023.
James Colzie III has been proving himself in the college football world for the last 23 seasons. He has worked and played for some of the best coaches in the business, a list that includes Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews, Romeo Crennel, Emmitt Thomas, Blake Nill and Kevin Steele. His career has included stops at elite Division I, Division II, U-Sport, and NJCAA football programs around the Southeast, Midwest, and Canada. As a collegiate player and coach, he has been a part of three National Championships, six Conference Titles, and 20 Bowl Games.
Colzie III contributed to a Rattlers defense that ranked top-25 in five defensive categories and top ten in three.
In 2022 Colzie left his post as the head football coach at Saint Mary’s University (Canada) with an overall record of 23-19. Saint Mary’s played for two AUS Championships (2018, and 2019) and posted a conference best 7-1 record during the 2018 season. In total, Coach Colzie posted six All-Canadians (DB DeAndre Smith (2016), DB Antoine Lyte-Myers (2019), DB Justin Julien (2021), RET Johnny King, RET Justin Julien (2021), DE Jadarius Caesar (2017), and LB Brad Herbst (2018). He developed and coached four CFL draft picks starting in 2018 with DL Tresor Mafuta (4thround to Saskatchewan), in 2021 with LB Jarek Richards (4th round to Hamilton) and OL Peter Kourtis (5th round to Edmonton), and DB Adrian Greene (4th round to BC). During Coach Colzie’s time at Saint Mary’s he also had 4 player of the year’s (two being defensive player’s of the year) and a final total of twenty All-Conference player’s while being the head football coach.
Colzie left the UBC Thunderbirds as their Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. In 2015, Colzie helped UBC to its first Vanier Cup Championship since 1997. The UBC defense finished ranked 2nd in the Canada West Conference in rushing defense, pass defense, and scoring defense.
In Colzie’s lone season at Coffeyville, he coached 2nd Team All-American Cornerback Jamarcus King, three 1stTeam All Jayhawk selections at both Cornerback positions in Jalen Roundtree, King and Punt Returner Darnell Walker Jr. He coached 2nd Team All-Conference Safety Mikal Cromartie, and two Honorable selections in Safety Devonte Foster and Placekicker Michael Pursley. The defense at Coffeyville finished 1stin the Nation with seven interceptions for touchdowns, and 1stin the Nation with 10 total defensive touchdowns, and 3rd down percentage (22%).
Colzie continued to enjoy success during the 2013 season while at Simon Fraser University. There he took over a defense that had finished dead last in all major conference defensive categories during the 2012 season and under his defense that finished 2ndin Pass Defense, 2ndin Opponents 1stdown, 3rdin third down and fourth down conversions. As the Special Teams Coordinator, his unit finished 1st“nationally” in Punt Returns, and 2ndin the conference in Kick-off Returns. Colzie had 3 1stteam All-Conference players and an All-Region player.
From 2007 to 2012, Colzie had success in multiple Division II football programs where he coached 6 All-Americans and 10 All-Conference players. Three of those years, his Special Teams were ranked 1st in the nation in Punt Return yards and touchdowns. In 2012 Colzie was the Recruiting Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, and Defensive Backs Coach at Southern Arkansas where he coached All-American Don Unamba at Boundary Corner. From 2008 to 2011, Colzie coached at the University of West Georgia and held numerous titles such as Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, and Defensive Backs Coach while developing 9 All Gulf-South Conference Players and 1 All-American at Punt Returner in 2012. In 2007, Coach Colzie was the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Valdosta State University while the team won the Division II National Championship. That same year the defense led the nation in interceptions and his Special Teams led the nation in touchdowns. During that year, Colzie had 2 All-Americans and 3 All-Conference selections.
During the 2004-2006 seasons, Coach Colzie worked as a Defensive Graduate Assistant at Florida State. where he coached cornerbacks that included 1stRound Picks Antonio Cromartie (2006), Patrick Robinson (2010), and 2ndRound Pick Bryant McFadden (2005).
James Colzie III began his coaching career in 2000 at Florida International University where he coached the cornerbacks and was also the Co-Special Team’s Coordinator working with returners. Before Florida International, in his playing days, he enjoyed the success of being a two-sport athlete at Florida State University. He played from 1993-1997 on the FSU football team and lettered on the baseball team in 1994. The Florida State Seminoles won the National Championship during the 1993 season.
Colzie III bio from FAMU athletics.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU AD Tiffani-Dawn Sykes to update BOT on football coaching search
