FSU Football: Could Chris Weinke return as assistant coach for Noles?

FSU football is in the process of trying to figure out who will fill out the coaching staff for Willie Taggart – could a former Noles legend fill one spot?

Almost 30 years ago, a quarterback from the state of Minnesota arrived in Tallahassee to compete for the starting quarterback spot for FSU football. That player named Chris Weinke would last one week before deciding to give minor league baseball a try. Six years later, it was back to football as Weinke rejoined the Seminoles.

By the time Weinke left the program after the 2000 season, he had a national title, a Heisman Trophy and threw for over 9,800 yards in just under three years as a starter to go along with 79 touchdown passes for his career. Needless to say, Weinke will always be considered one of the best to put the garnet and gold on in leading the 1999 national championship team.

After seven seasons in the NFL, he turned to coaching where he spent four seasons coaching at IMG Academy in Bradenton, two in the NFL with the Rams and spent this season as an offensive analyst with Alabama.

That stop in Tuscaloosa was thought to be his ticket to a full time gig – with reports he was following former FSU football assistant Jeremy Pruitt up to Knoxville after Pruitt was named head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Well, that’s a move that might not be happening after all. A Tennessee fan site, Volquest, reports that Weinke is evaluating other options – including a possible one that would return him to his alma mater:

From several perspectives, this would be huge for FSU football if they are able to bring one of their own in on the staff. Weinke’s connections within the high school and pro community would be huge in terms of recruiting – while also bringing a family atmosphere into the program if Taggart brings him in and keeps longtime coach and former FSU All-American Odell Haggins along with former wide receiver coach Lawrence Dawsey.

If Weinke comes in, he would almost certainly become the quarterback coach – a position currently held by Randy Sanders since the2013 season along with being co-offensive coordinator with Dawsey. Currently, two coaches – Tim Brewster and Jay Graham – have announced they are heading to Texas A&M with former coach Jimbo Fisher.

Next: Can Willie Taggart win ACC in first season?

Taggart has hired his first assistant for the 2018 staff, naming Telly Lockette as an assistant coach. Lockette spent the last three seasons at Oregon State after spending two seasons at USF under Taggart. Lockette was known for being a state title winning coach at Miami Central High School, where he coached former FSU football greats Devonta Freeman and Dalvin Cook.