The Florida A&M Rattlers have fired head coach James Colzie after two seasons. Colzie went 12-12 overall and 9-7 in the SWAC during his two seasons. Henry Burris was named the interim head coach.
Colzie was promoted to head coach in January 2024, following the departure of Willie Simmons. Simmons led FAMU for six years, going 45-13 overall and 32-5 in the SWAC before taking the running backs coaching role at Duke. Colzie’s first season saw them have an up-and-down campaign. They won the first two games, lost the next two against FBS competition, and then split fifth and sixth games. Sitting at 3-3 overall, the Rattlers won the next two games, then lost two games, and ended the season with two wins to reach 7-5. Part of the 2024 season was a 24-21 home loss against Mississippi Valley State on November 16. That proved to be MVSU’s only win in 2024 and a recurring issue for FAMU both seasons.
2025 saw the Rattlers start 1-4, with the first victory being a 33-25 win at home to NCAA Division II Albany State. FAMU rattled off wins in four of the next five to reach 5-5 overall. Florida A&M lost the final two games, which included a contest against rival Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic. The season finale saw Florida A&M lose to Mississippi Valley State for the second straight season. MVSU finished 2-10 overall, and its lone FCS victory was once again at the hands of Florida A&M.
Before becoming head coach, Colzie was the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2023. He was also on staff as the defensive backs coach in 2022. His prior head coaching experience came at Saint Mary’s in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of U Sports. He compiled an 18-20 record in five seasons, according to SMU’s coaching records page. (There were multiple forfeits by SMU and its opponents during his tenure, with FMU previously reporting a 23-19 overall record for Colzie at the school).
Colzie is the 11th FCS coaching change to occur in the current cycle. Albany (CAA), Bucknell (Patriot League), Cal Poly (Big Sky), Hampton (CAA), Penn (Ivy League), Portland State (Big Sky), Sacramento State (Big Sky), Samford (SoCon), Southern (SWAC), and Weber State (Big Sky) have also announced changes. The full list of changes can be found here.
Photo Credit to Florida A&M University Athletics
