The James Colzie III era of Florida A&M football has officially begun.

And his message focused on maintaining the program’s storied winning culture.

“I want to ensure we continue to uphold FAMU’s standard of winning,” Colzie said in his opening statement.

“We have to do it with class. We already have a contagious culture, and I can’t wait to add to that. We will reach our maximum potential by not compromising anything we do and keeping our goals and vision the same.”

On Monday, FAMU officially introduced the Rattlers’ 19th full-time head coach with a press conference on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium. The speaker’s podium was placed on the 50-yard line near the sideline.

FAMU announced last Saturday that it promoted Colzie from interim to head coach to replace Willie Simmons. Simmons resigned from the Rattlers on Jan. 1 after six seasons to become Duke’s running backs coach.

FAMU is Colzie’s second head-coaching job, last serving at St. Mary’s University in Canada from 2016 to 2021.

The Miami native joined the Rattlers staff in 2022 to oversee the cornerbacks. He added assistant head coach to his duties in 2023, which saw FAMU win the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl titles.

Colzie, a former Florida State football and baseball player, was hired after a 26-day search for the Rattlers’ head coaching vacancy.

FAMU hired search firm Renaissance Search and Consulting and assembled an eight-person search committee that included key Rattlers’ stakeholders.

The FAMU job attracted 45 applicants, and Colzie was identified as the best fit to lead the Rattlers.

Terms of Colzie’s contract were not released.

“A large pool of interesting and experienced candidates were considered,” FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said as she introduced Colzie III.

“At the end of this process, James Colzie III emerged as the right person to lead FAMU football. I ask everyone who loves FAMU to fully support our coach, his staff, and our football student-athletes.

“Coach Colzie is forever a part of the rich legacy of FAMU football head coaching greats.”

New FAMU head football coach James Colzie III enters role with support of locker room

Rattlers football players played a significant role in Colzie becoming their new head coach.

The team immediately backed then-interim head coach Colzie to get the permanent role and replace the departed Simmons.

FAMU running back and Celebration Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player Kelvin Dean Jr. served on the search committee. Furthermore, FAMU players were vocal in favor of Colzie via Board of Trustees meetings and social media.

“I truly, truly appreciate what you did for me,” Colzie addressed his players who sat in the crowd during his introductory press conference.

“There’s a trust that has been built over the last couple of years,” he added. “I wouldn’t ask my guys to do anything but be honest with me, do what’s asked, and be quality individuals.

“We’re a pretty close team. I’m hoping we continue to be closer.”

Following Simmons’ New Year’s Day departure, FAMU has retained all on-field coaches.

FAMU support staffers, director of football operations, chief of staff LaTroy Johnson, and director of recruiting Devin Rispress left the program.

Johnson is now the South Carolina State’s director of football operations in his hometown of Orangeburg. Rispress works on coach Deion Sanders’ Colorado staff as an assistant director of player personnel and high school relations.

Colzie held his first staff meeting as the Rattlers’ head football coach shortly after the press conference.

“I want to thank the staff that’s been sticking with me since January 1,” Colzie said. “There’s been some ups and downs, but we maintained what was important ― our players.”

James Colzie III looking forward to first signing day as FAMU's head football coach

Feb. 7's National Signing Day is looming.

So, Colzie’s first order of business is identifying student-athletes to assist the Rattlers in their SWAC and Black College Football National Championship repeat efforts.

The newly hired FAMU head coach recently visited South Florida on a recruiting trip.

“The first priority is making sure we sign a successful class on February 7,” Colzie said. “It’s about solidifying our recruiting class and ensuring our guys in the locker room and our coaches are good.”

Colzie says he wants more offensive linemen and wide receivers for his inaugural Rattlers team.

Thus far, Colzie’s most significant addition has been former Florida State running back Rodney Hill, who played for the Seminoles from 2022 to 2023.

Hill was previously committed to FAMU last December but de-committed in January after Simmons’ departure. Hill then committed to the Miami Hurricanes but returned to the Rattlers.

Colzie and Hill share the connection of both being former FSU football players.

“The lifeline of our program is our recruiting,” Colzie said. “We must ensure we continue to bring in the right people at Florida A&M.”

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: New Rattlers coach Colzie excited to overtake program