Longtime Florida State University assistant coach Odell Haggins will remain at the school, and and serve as associate head coach and under Willie Taggart. The move comes after Jimbo Fisher left FSU last month for a coaching job at Texas A&M and FSU named Taggart as its new head coach.
Haggins became interim coach in December, replacing Fisher for the last game of the season. Haggins led the team to a 42-10 victory over the University of Louisiana-Monroe, a win that allowed FSU to become bowl eligible. This marks FSU’s 36th straight appearance I in a bowl season.
“Coach Haggins is Garnet and Gold through-and-through,” Taggart said in a statement released by the university. “He has done a remarkable job leading our team through the last game of the regular season and preparations for the Independence Bowl, and I have noticed how positively the student-athletes respond to him.”
Next season will mark Haggins’ 25th at FSU. He played on the defensive line between 1986-89.
“I am a Seminole for life,” Coach Haggins said. “I’m thankful to Coach Taggart for giving me the opportunity to remain at my alma mater and am excited to be at Florida State University. It has been an incredible blessing to coach at the school I played at and have been coaching at most of my life. Coach Taggart and I are on the same page with our focus on doing the best we can to be a mentor and a father figure to these student-athletes. Everything we do is to help guide them as they develop on and off the field.”
During his time at Florida State, Haggins has coached 17 defensive linemen that have been selected in the NFL Draft, including first-round selections Brodrick Bunkley in 2006, Travis Johnson in 2005, Corey Simon in 2000 and Andre Wadsworth in 1998. Haggins also oversaw the development of second-round picks Eddie Goldman and Timmy Jernigan as well as Pro Bowler Darnell Dockett, Larry Smith, Andre Fluellen, Jerry Johnson, Julian Pittman and Letroy Guion.
Haggins was named one of the six best defensive line coaches in college football by CBS Sports in 2008,
