(Tallahassee) -- James Colzie has been named the new Florida A&M Head Football Coach, a delight to many rooting for the in-house hire. Colzie was named the 19th head football coach in FAMU's storied history by Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani Dawn-Sykes.

Colzie will succeed Willie Simmons, who departed to become the running backs coach at Duke.

Colzie worked under Willie Simmons as Defensive Backs coach for the last two seasons. He was promoted to Assistant Head Coach in his second season in 2023, with the Rattlers finishing 12-1 as the HBCU National Champs, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champions, and winning the Celebration Bowl over Howard 30-26.

After Simmons' surprise departure, Colzie was named interim Head Coach while a committee was tasked with searching for a replacement.

Colzie started his collegiate coaching career in 2002 as a defensive back coach at Florida International (FIU). He would later work as a graduate assistant at his alma under his former head coach Bobby Bowden. Bowden would later go on to retire in 2009 as the winningnest coach in college football history.

HIGH SCHOOL

Colzie was a multi-sport star at South Miami High School, starring in football, baseball, and basketball. As a star defensive back, he notched a whopping 24 Interceptions during his high school campaign. Colzie also batted over .300 and averaged over 20 points a game as a star point guard for the Cobras. Colzie was named the prestigious Miami Herald Athlete of the Year in 1993. Colzie, a Dade County native, signed with the Florida State Seminoles during a time in which the University of Miami was dominant and Florida State had not yet won a national championship.

COLLEGE

Colzie was on Florida State's 1993 National Championship team, playing as a true freshman alongside future Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward.

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