The search for the next leader of Florida A&M’s football program is heating up.

The Rattlers head football coach committee met with hired search firm Renaissance Search and Consulting Sunday afternoon to discuss candidates to replace former FAMU head coach and new Duke running backs coach Willie Simmons.

It was the third search committee meeting since FAMU’s Board of Trustees motioned the search committee to assist Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes in landing the Rattlers' 19th-full time head coach last Tuesday.

The search committee chair is FAMU Chief Operating Officer and Vice President Dr. Donald Palm and features eight representatives of university direct support organizations.

Forty-five applicants applied for FAMU’s head coaching vacancy, posted on Thursday by Renaissance, founded by former college and professional basketball player Herb Courtney II in 2020. A portion of applicants have HBCU football ties, according to the search firm. Additionally, Renaissance Vice President of Athletics Adam Gordon said four have won Southwestern Athletic Conference championships in their careers.

“We weren’t sure we were going to get this many in the pool,” Dr. Palm said on Sunday’s Zoom call. “I think we really overachieved what I expected, and I’m excited that we have 45 strong candidates for this position.”

FAMU’s search committee and Renaissance kept candidates confidential to be cautious of leaking to the public. Dr. Palm said releasing names could restart the search process.

The search committee unanimously motioned five candidates to forward to FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson and VP/AD Sykes for interviews.

The defending SWAC and Black College Football National Championship winners Rattlers hope to have a coach in place by National Signing Day Feb. 7.

FAMU Head Football Coach Search Committee

COO Dr. Donald Palm, Committee Chair

Selvin Cobb, Rattler Boosters President

Kelvin Dean Jr., FAMU football player

Eddie Jackson, 220 Quarterback Club President

Curtis Johnson Jr., FAMU National Alumni Association President

Lisa LaBoo, FAMU Foundation Board of Directors Chair

Kyla Ligon, FAMU Student Government Association Representative

Ebenezer Oriaku, FAMU Faculty Athletic Representative

Curtis Taylor, Rattler F Club President

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: Rattlers coach committee recommends five candidates