Resolution on Willie Taggart-Florida State contract talks expected Tuesday

After discussions between Florida State officials and Willie Taggart and his representatives continued deep into the night on Monday, a decision was expected on Tuesday, according to reports.

Taggart, a Palmetto native and former Manatee High star, met with FSU officials Monday in Arizona while on a recruiting trip before returning to Oregon late that night.

After Taggart returned to Eugene late Monday, Oregon officials had not been informed if Taggart would be leaving after one season to head to Tallahassee.

In the midst of its first coaching search since hiring Bobby Bowden in 1976, Florida State is looking for a replacement for Jimbo Fisher, who resigned last week after eight seasons with the Seminoles to take a 10-year, $75 million offer from Texas A&M.

In the days since Fisher left FSU, all eyes have been on Taggart, who coached at South Florida for four seasons before leaving last December to take the Oregon job.

Taggart recently was offered a five-year, $20 million extension by Oregon but hasn’t signed it, according to reports. That has led to speculation that Taggart could depart Oregon after one season for what would be considered a dream job at Florida State.

Oregon officials were said to be expecting a decision on Taggart’s future early this week.

Taggart has a 47-50 career record during stints at Western Kentucky (16-20 from 2010-12), USF (24-25 from 2013-16) and Oregon (7-5 in 2017).

While Oregon is said to be preparing for a coaching search if Taggart is Florida State’s top choice, FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox said he wanted to move “very, very fast” in landing Fisher’s replacement.

After Florida State beat Louisiana Monroe 42-10 on Saturday to extend the program’s streak of consecutive bowl appearance to 36, Wilcox said, among other things, the new coach must be a strong recruiter within Florida and have the ability to be a “CEO” of a premier program.

With the early signing period (Dec. 20-22) for football players rapidly approaching, time is of the essence.

“We’re going to find the next leader that’s going to be able to fit into Florida State, and fit with all the facilities that we have, with all the resources that we have,” Wilcox said.

This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Resolution on Willie Taggart-Florida State contract talks expected Tuesday."