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James Colzie III

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James Colzie III
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamFlorida A&M
ConferenceSWAC
Record6–5
Biographical details
Born (1974-12-08) December 8, 1974 (age 49)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1993–1996Florida State
Baseball
1994Florida State
Position(s)Cornerback (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
2000–2003FIU (assistant ST/DB)
2004–2006Florida State (GA)
2007Valdosta State (ST/DB)
2008–2011West Georgia (AHC/DC/ST/DB)
2012Southern Arkansas (ST/RC/DB)
2013Simon Fraser (DC/DB)
2014Coffeyville (ST/RC/DB)
2015UBC (DC/DB)
2016–2021Saint Mary's (NS)
2022Florida A&M (DB)
2023Florida A&M (AHC/DB)
2024–presentFlorida A&M
Head coaching record
Overall6–5 (NCAA)
18–20 (U Sports)
Tournaments1–2 (U Sports playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 AUS (2017)

James Colzie III (born December 8, 1974) is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for Florida A&M University, a position he has held since 2024. He was the head football coach for Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 2016 to 2021. He also coached for FIU, Florida State, Valdosta State, West Georgia, Southern Arkansas, Simon Fraser, Coffeyville Community College, and UBC. He played college football and baseball for Florida State.

Early life

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Colzie was born on December 8, 1974, in Miami, Florida.[1] His uncle, Neal Colzie, played in the National Football League (NFL).[2] He attended South Miami Senior High School where he played football, basketball and baseball under his father, James Colzie Jr., who was the school's athletic director.[3][4][5] Playing defensive back in football, he was a top player with 24 career interceptions and was named All-State, All-Dade County and The Miami Herald Athlete of the Year as a senior.[3][4] He also scored over 2,000 points in basketball as a point guard and hit .300 as a center fielder in baseball.[5] Off the field, he was the only student of South Miami's Advanced Placement Chemistry class to have an A-average throughout his senior year.[5] The number two-ranked prospect in the county, he committed to play college football for the Florida State Seminoles.[3]

As a true freshman in 1993, Colzie appeared in all 13 games for Florida State and helped them win the national championship.[6] He was a backup in the 1994 and 1995 seasons, recording 17 tackles and two interceptions in the latter year.[7][8] However, his 1995 season was derailed when he was sentenced to four days in jail and 75 hours of community service for involvement in a nighclub fight.[9] He then made "education and staying out of trouble" his priority and became a starter as a senior in 1996.[9] He had 34 tackles and three interceptions that year.[10] In addition to football, Colzie also played a season of baseball in 1994 at Florida State.[11] An All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection in 1996, Colzie reportedly had a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played in the minor league baseball system of the Montreal Expos.[12]

Coaching career

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Colzie began his coaching career with the FIU Panthers in 2000, serving as co-special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach.[13] He remained in the positions through the 2003 season.[13] In 2004, he returned for Florida State as a graduate assistant, assisting the cornerbacks and punt returners.[14] In 2007, he moved to the Valdosta State Blazers and helped them win the NCAA Division II championship as special teams and defensive backs coach.[15] He joined the West Georgia Wolves in 2008 and served through 2011 as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach.[13]

In 2012, Colzie served as special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Southern Arkansas Muleriders.[13] He moved to Canada in 2013 and served as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Simon Fraser Clan.[13] He then was the defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Coffeyville Red Ravens community college team in 2014.[13] Colzie was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the UBC Thunderbirds in 2015 and helped them win the Vanier Cup.[13] In 2016, he was named head coach of the Saint Mary's Huskies.[16] He served as their head coach for five seasons (2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and compiled an overall record of 18–20, helping them reach the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) championship twice.[17] He resigned prior to the 2022 season.[16]

In 2022, Colzie was hired by the Florida A&M Rattler as defensive backs coach.[18] He added the role of assistant head coach in 2023 and helped them win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship and the Celebration Bowl that season.[19] After Willie Simmons left following the 2023 season to become running backs coach for the Duke Blue Devils, Colzie was named interim head coach, later being named full-time head coach in January 2024.[19]

Head coaching record

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NCAA

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Florida A&M Rattlers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Florida A&M 6–5 4–3 (East)
Florida A&M: 6–5 4–3
Total: 6–5

U Sports

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs U Sports Top 10#
Saint Mary's Huskies (Atlantic University Sport) (2016–2021)
2016 Saint Mary's 2–6 2–5 T–3rd
2017 Saint Mary's 5–3 5–3 2nd L Loney 8
2018 Saint Mary's 7–1 7–1 1st L Loney
2019 Saint Mary's 3–5 3–5 T–3rd
2020 No team
2021 Saint Mary's 1–5 1–5 T–4th
Saint Mary's: 18–20 18–19
Total: 18–20
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ 2023 Florida A&M Football Media Guide (PDF). Florida A&M Rattlers. 2023. p. 41.
  2. ^ Ellis, Steve (February 2, 1993). "FSU lands a cornerback; others hold off". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c Phillips, Mike (February 2, 1993). "Colzie commits to Seminoles". The Miami Herald. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b Phillips, Mike (June 10, 1993). "Colzie is Athlete of Year; Southridge wins All-Sports". The Miami Herald. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ a b c "Dade's best, brightest shine". The Miami Herald. May 5, 1993. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Ellis, Steve (August 23, 2005). "He's been there before". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ Landman, Brian (November 1, 1996). "Seminoles' Colzie learns how to make a difference". Tampa Bay Times. p. 61 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ "Colzie: FSU lost too many starters last season". Tallahassee Democrat. August 11, 1996. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ a b Ellis, Steve (August 11, 1996). "Seminoles' Colzie says focus no longer secondary in his life". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ "James Colzie". NoleFan.org.
  11. ^ Thomas III, Gerald (January 16, 2024). "FAMU football coach search continues as board approves motions for search firm and committee". Tallahassee Democrat.
  12. ^ "Clan's new defensive coordinator brings Division I and II National Championship experience". Simon Fraser Red Leafs. March 14, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "James Colzie III". Florida A&M Rattlers.
  14. ^ Lamar, Jim (March 15, 2004). "Colzie happy to be home". Rivals.com.
  15. ^ Swedelson, Justin (June 2, 2009). "Reynolds still waiting for NFL to call". The Valdosta Daily Times.
  16. ^ a b MacDonald, Glenn (April 24, 2022). "Saint Mary's seeking new football head coach following Colzie's resignation". SaltWire Network.
  17. ^ Thomas III, Gerald (January 2, 2024). "Who will lead the next chapter of FAMU football? Here are some possible early targets". Tallahassee Democrat.
  18. ^ Thomas III, Gerald (April 10, 2022). "New hires adjusting to roles with FAMU football, depth is key in 11th day of training camp". Tallahassee Democrat.
  19. ^ a b Thomas III, Gerald (January 27, 2024). "FAMU promotes interim football coach James Colzie III to lead Rattlers as new head coach". Tallahassee Democrat.
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