This week, James Colsey III will lead the first practice in a new live show.
The newly hired Florida A&M head football coach will oversee the Rattlers' 15 spring practices starting Tuesday.
Colzi, a former Rattlers assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach, will become FAMU's 19th full-time football coach on Jan. 27, replacing Willie Simmons, who left on Jan. 1 to become running backs coach at Duke University. He was promoted to head coach.
Colzi was the Rattlers' interim head coach, but FAMU fielded a candidate to fill the vacant position.
Colzie is now tasked with permanently overseeing the entire FAMU football team, rather than coaching his assigned position.
“For me, it's a broader spectrum. It's about this whole team,” Colsey, 49, said in a one-on-one interview with the Tallahassee Democrat. “I'm asking our players to stay on top of the details and finish the spring better than they started. We have a talented soccer team with players who can play at the next level.
“But my biggest thing is making sure we get better as individuals and play better as a team.”
Colzi did his best during his short tenure.
He built a recruiting class that included: Average transfer ranking 1st in the Football Championship Division.
In addition, Colsey oversaw the hard work of the offseason, including the Rattlers' early morning organized team activity, the “Fourth Quarter Drill.”
What Colzi has done for FAMU football thus far is just a prelude to the Rattlers entering the 2024 spring practice season. Colzi currently has 98 players on his roster.
“Everything is going well,” Colzie said of his first month as FAMU’s head coach. “The players are doing everything I've asked them to do and they're getting stronger and in better shape. The mindset is that no matter the situation, we rise up and overcome adversity and get the job done. is.”
FAMU's new football coach, James Colsey III, tours Rattler Nation.
It was an eventful process for Colzi to take the FAMU head football coaching job.
This 26-day period included players advocating for Colzi and an appointed search committee conducting similar activities.
FAMU had a desire to hire an internal coach to maintain its remaining Southwestern Athletic Conference title, Black College Football National Championship team, and coaching staff.
Ultimately, Colzie signed a three-year contract worth $720,000 to lead the Rattlers' football program. So FAMU's new head coach needs to win quickly.
“I think it just adds pressure to begin with. You're trying to win a football game against a team that just won a national championship,” Colzi looked ahead.
“There's pressure. I know that. If we control what we can control and do what we do as a football team, we'll be in good shape. I have to make sure the players play as a unified football team. not.”
Colzi is no stranger to Florida. He is from Miami.
Plus, Colsey is a household name for Tallahassee. He spent his college years as a two-sport athlete in baseball and football at Florida State University (1993-1996). He was a freshman on his 1993 national championship football team for the Seminoles.
But Colzi is now firmly entrenched in FAMU's culture.
He gave his first address at the 220 Quarterback Club last Wednesday. And he has built a rapport with former FAMU head football coach Rudy Hubbard, who led the Rattlers to the inaugural Division I-AA national championship in 1978.
Colsey had seen a photo of Hubbard on the Ghost of the Orange Bowl Facebook page. It showed the legendary FAMU coach leading the Rattlers to a 17-13 victory in the Orange Blossom Classic against Howard on December 7, 1974 in Miami. Colzi was born on December 8, 1974 in Miami.
“Coach Rudy Hubbard approached me when I was first hired. We texted several times,” Colzi said. “I sent him a Facebook post and we laughed about it. It was kind of a unique deal.”
FAMU finalizes coaching staff, ready to evaluate team in spring
The FAMU soccer coaching staff is currently being assembled.
Colzie added assistant head coach to offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Joseph Henry's duties. Henry also calls the plays.
Associate defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Milton Patterson will be promoted to defensive coordinator and move to linebackers coach, a role he held in college.
Safeties coach Davon Morgan will oversee all defensive backs.
Colzi will continue to coach the cornerbacks.
FAMU's on-field vacancies include quarterback and defensive line coaches. Our support staff openings are Director of Football Operations and Director of Recruitment.
“I have an idea of what type of players I want to coach in individual areas,” Colzi said. “We've interviewed and made sure to do everything thoroughly through the university and the athletic department. Once they get here, we're excited. But until then, we're making sure all of our staff are properly coached. As a staff member, we will continue to do what we need to do to ensure that.”
Colzi is ready to begin his first spring practice as FAMU's head coach.
The 15 spring practices culminate with the annual Orange and Green Spring Game on April 13th. The FAMU football can offers a preview of his defending HBCU national champions.
“I look forward to seeing everyone at the spring game,” Colzi said. “Spring is where Rattler Nation gets to know the new members who will be the future face of this program.”
Gerald Thomas III covers Florida A&M University athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him by email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as his Twitter. @3peatgee.
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