Report: Florida State football adds Jim Leavitt to staff

After agreeing to mutually part ways with the University of Oregon in February, Jim Leavitt has found a new home in Tallahassee.

As first reported by Bruce Feldman, Leavitt will join Willie Taggart’s staff in Tallahassee as an analyst, a position that was re-posted on Monday.

Leavitt joining Taggart in Tallahassee has been in the making for almost two years. When Taggart initially became head coach at Florida State, it was almost certain that Leavitt would be along for the ride, though he opted to stay at Oregon. There was renewed speculation in the spring that he was set to join the staff when he visited a couple of FSU practices after leaving Oregon, and now a few months later, as Florida State’s defense has struggled to deal with departure of talent and scheme, he’s finally coming aboard.

Leavitt’s resume speaks for itself. Along with experience in rebuilding a program and a familiar rapport with Taggart, Leavitt brings behind-the-scenes organizational skills, along with experience running a multiple, odd-man front defense.

He built South Florida’s program from the ground up for 12 years, amassing a 95-57 record before coaching linebackers for the San Fransisco 49ers under Jim Harbaugh’s tenure. After a four-year stint there, he became Colorado’s defensive coordinator where they jumped 43 spots in S&P Defensive ratings from his first year to his second year.