USF Bulls | Woodie promoted to special teams coordinator; Kinnan's post now full time
TAMPA -- Special teams have always had a special place in Willie Taggart's heart. It's a reason the USF head football coach put them under the care of Ray Woodie.
"Coach Woodie has earned everything he has gotten. He is smart, passionate and understands our players. Most important all our players respect him," Taggart said in naming him special teams coordinator.
Woodie oversaw special teams when he was head coach at Palmetto and Bayshore and helped coach special teams at Western Kentucky when Braden River graduate Willie McNeal made the freshman All-American first team as a kick returner,
"Being a successful special teams coordinator is about using your personnel correctly," Woodie said. "You got to find guys who are not selfish and will do their jobs. You need guys who will go 100 percent and understand if they do their job, everything else will work itself out."
Woodie said he is looking for aggressive guys who hit hard and understand the scheme they are being asked to implement.
"I appreciate Coach Taggart giving me the opportunity and whatever he wants I can make sure it will get done," Woodie said. "You have to be addicted to detail to be successful in this, teaching the schemes and adding new wrinkles."
Taking over as special teams coordinator is the second promotion for Woodie since last season. He was named assistant head coach and coaches linebackers, which is the Bulls strongest defensive unit.
A person who has a special place in Taggart's heart is former Manatee High Hall of Fame coach Joe Kinnan. The two won a state title together and hope to add some additional laurels this season.
Kinnan has worked as senior offensive consultant since the offseason in a position that was made full time this week, though his duties are the same.
Under NCAA rules he cannot coach because he is not a member of USF's nine-person coaching staff. But he is allowed to watch film and relay his ideas to the assistant coaches. He will be allowed to sit in the press box during games, though he cannot wear a headset.
"He is a great addition, fits in perfectly and brings great ideas. It's great to have him around. He is a winner, knows what he is doing and brings a lot of enthusiasm and knowledge," Taggart said.
Kinnan led Manatee to five state titles, for the most part using a spread offense that will be similar to the new offense USF plans to implement this season. He will work with Bulls co-offensive coordinator Danny Hope, who coached with Kinnan at Manatee and is the former head coach at Purdue and Eastern Kentucky.
"My role is offensive consultant. We have changed the offense to an up-tempo, no-huddle (attack), which I and Coach Hope have experience with," Kinnan said. "We want to play fast so we tried to really simplify things with our terminology and formations. You are seeing more and more successful teams doing it like Oregon and Ohio State."
Taggart said he is changing from the West Coast offense he ran his first two years at USF because after three recruiting classes he has the players who are best suited for his new offense.
USF also added former Bulls All-Big East and NFL linebacker Stephen Nicholas and Cardinal Mooney standout quarterback Jared Clark, who played tight end for three years at Notre Dame. They will serve as analysts and, similar to Kinnan, cannot coach the players, but can add input to the coaching staff.
Calloway leaves team
On a disappointing note, former Manatee defensive lineman Derrick Calloway has left the USF football program. He had a good spring and was being touted as one of the better defensive linemen in the American Athletic Conference.
"Derrick has things he has to work out, and I wish him nothing but the best. Hopefully things will work for him," Taggart said.
This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "USF Bulls | Woodie promoted to special teams coordinator; Kinnan's post now full time ."