College football | USF's Taggart names defensive coordinator; Kinnan still undecided

USF head football coach Willie Taggart began rebuilding his staff Wednesday by naming a defensive coordinator, but the question about whether his former high school coach will come aboard remains unanswered.

Mississippi linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Tom Allen accepted the defensive coordinator position, replacing Chuck Bresnahan, who was fired Dec. 8.

Former Manatee High coach Joe Kinnan said he and Taggart are still talking about whether Kinnan will join the offensive staff. Taggart also let go offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Paul Wulff after last year's 4-8 campaign.

"There's still no news," Kinnan said Wednesday. "I'm not going to be a coordinator. ... Willie has said he wants to call the plays. I might be involved in some capacity."

Taggart was the quarterback for Kinnan's 1992 state championship team at Manatee and led the Hurricanes back to the state final the next season.

Another of Kinnan's proteges, former Purdue head coach Danny Hope, visited Taggart on Monday to interview for the offensive line position, Kinnan said.

Hope played for Kinnan at Eastern Kentucky, where Kinnan was the offensive coordinator, and followed him to Manatee. Hope coached the Hurricanes' offensive line from 1981-84, including the state championship year of 1983.

Allen started his coaching career at Tampa Temple Heights and Seffner Armwood high schools. He coached with Hugh Freeze at Arkansas State and followed him to Mississippi in 2012.

The 2014 Ole Miss defense led the nation in scoring defense, giving up 13.8 points per game and allowing a national low of 18 touchdowns.

"I'm very excited to bring Tom Allen back to the Bay Area," Taggart said. "Tom has been a part of a lot of winning during his coaching career, has helped guide some very aggressive and successful defenses and has tremendous relationships in the Bay Area."

Kinnan said one of his former players, Manatee's Chris Conley, spoke highly of Allen. Conley was a punter for the Rebels.

"I've heard some good things," Kinnan said. "They (Chris and his father, Kevin) think the world of him."

This story was originally published December 18, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "College football | USF's Taggart names defensive coordinator; Kinnan still undecided ."