TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M has introduced James Colzie II as its 19th football coach.

Colzie replaces Willie Simmons, who took a job as an assistant coach for running backs at Duke earlier this month after leading the Rattlers to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities national championship.

“Today begins a new era in FAMU football. Today, we will add a new name to the legacy of FAMU football coaching greats," Vice President/Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said. "...At the end of this process, James Colzie III emerged as the right person at this time to lead FAMU football.

“Our priority was identifying a coach who, first and foremost, had a commitment to academic excellence and has a comprehensive understanding of APR (Academic Progress Rate). Coach Colzie is currently a doctoral student at Capella University, studying leadership and higher education. It is clear he understands and appreciates the importance of higher education.”

Colzie joined the FAMU coaching staff in 2022 as cornerbacks coach. At the end of that campaign, Simmons promoted him to assistant head coach. Before he came to FAMU, Colzie was head coach at Saint Mary’s University in Canada, where he had an overall record of 23-19.

The former Florida State football and baseball player also held a variety of coaching jobs at the University of British Columbia, at Simon Fraser University, Southern Arkansas, West Georgia and Valdosta State.

Colzie said he wants the team to win the Florida Classic, which has been played in Orlando against Bethune-Cookman University for many years, as well as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and the Celebration Bowl, the postseason college football game between the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the SWAC.

“I want to make sure we do it with class," Colzie said. "The FAMU standard is going to be about winning, but also about the right culture. We already have a contagious culture. I can't wait to add to that.”