USF targeted Charlie Strong hours after Willie Taggart's departure to Oregon, and Sunday, they got their guy.
Strong was named the Bulls' fourth head coach in program history, USF confirmed in a release just after noon.
“I would like to thank President (Judy) Genshaft and Mark Harlan for their confidence and belief in me,” Strong said in a release. “I am humbled that we have a shared commitment to take this university and this football program to even greater heights. Some of the best football talent in the country is right here in the Bay Area and throughout the state of Florida, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with the young men in the USF football program and build on the strong foundation already in place.”
Strong's contract is said to be for five years.
10News was told by a source that Strong, who was fired by Texas in November, and USF were negotiating and were close to striking a deal as early as Thursday. Strong met with USF athletic director Mark Harlan Friday, per 247Sports, and was mulling over the job offer this weekend, before accepting it.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Charlie, his wife, Vicki, and their children Tory, Hailee and Hope, back to the state of Florida and to our Bulls family,” Harlan said. “Charlie is a tremendous leader and mentor for our student-athletes and a widely-respected coach with a resume full of achievements at the highest levels of college football. He combines a drive to win with great integrity and deep, long-standing connections in the state of Florida. The future of USF football is very bright under his direction.”
A press conference to officially introduce Strong will likely take place Monday or Tuesday.
Texas canned Strong following a 5-7 season. Overall, he went 16-21 in three seasons at the helm.
The 56-year old has an impressive resume. He led Louisville to a 37-15 record from 2010-2013, which included two double-digit win seasons and a 2013 Sugar Bowl win over Florida. Prior to Louisville, Strong was a long-time assistant for the Gators, coaching a defense that won two national championships under his watch.
The two-time Big East Coach of the Year has served under legendary coaches Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz and Urban Meyer.
Strong will inherit a talented USF team that returns a majority of its offensive starters, including quarterback Quinton Flowers, from a unit that broke nearly every school record this season.
Under Taggart, the Bulls won a program-record 10 games in 2016. He was officially introduced at Oregon on Thursday, signing a five-year deal worth $3.2 million annually.
Strong's contract with USF will likely be in he $2-million range, offset by a portion of his $11 million buyout from Texas.
“We are especially excited to welcome Charlie Strong to the University of South Florida,” Genshaft said. “He joins our football program at an incredibly exciting time, and we look forward to seeing him build on our ongoing foundation and momentum. The board of trustees and I beleive he brings outstanding leadership and experience, and is sure to be a tremendous resource to the entire USF System.”
