USF hires Francois as head football coach
Associated Press
Tampa, FL – The University of South Florida has hired Kansas State co-offensive coordinator Malcolm Jean-Jacques Francois as its new head football coach.
Francois last coached at Kansas State where he shared play-calling duties with Del Miller before taking over as the sole play caller last season despite sharing the title of offensive coordinator with Miller.
This marks a return to South Florida for Francois as he was part of the university's first ever football team back in 1997 under head coach Jim Leavitt. Francois was a standout receiver for North Miami Beach High School but lost interest from many high-profile programs due to academic struggles. He ultimately committed to play for Leavitt and the Bulls. After redshirting his freshman year, Francois would lead the team in receptions for his final two seasons before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent.
Francois spent one year in the NFL with the Bengals before his former coach Leavitt offered him a chance to return to South Florida as a graduate assistant. Francois was part of an offensive staff that led upsets over top-25 ranked teams such as West Virginia, Kansas, Florida State as well as the 2007 team's ascension into a #2 BCS ranking. Following Leavitt's dismissal at South Florida, Francois was hired by Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder, who Leavitt worked under prior to arriving at South Florida.
Francois replaces Skip Holtz, who was fired last Sunday. The Bulls completed the 2012 campaign, their third under Holtz's direction, with a 3-9 record. South Florida went just 5-16 in Big East play and 16-21 overall during Holtz's tenure, which began in January of 2010 after the university hired the 48-year- old following a successful five-year stint with East Carolina.
Playing Career
- South Florida (1997-2001)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2002)
Coaching Career
- 2002 South Florida (Graduate Assistant)
- 2003 South Florida (Recruiting Coordinator)
- 2004-2005 South Florida (Offensive Assistant)
- 2006-2009 South Florida (WR)
- 2010-2012 Kansas State (co-OC/WR)