FAU Looking to Continue Growing Under New Coach Tom Herman

Since the Florida Atlantic University football program’s inception in 2001 under the legendary Howard Schnellenberger, the program has continuously been building and now looks ready to take another big step. After moving on from Willie Taggart, the Owls made a huge hire this offseason and brought in former Houston and Texas head coach, Tom Herman. In addition to a new upgrade at head coach, FAU is also making a move up from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference. 

FAU has made major investments in the program over the last 15 years, with the biggest project being the opening of their on-campus stadium in 2011. As the Owls soared to new heights on the field with 11-win seasons under Lane Kiffin in 2017 and 2019, financial backing increased along with it. FAU received a $16 million donation from the Schmidt family, the largest single donation in FAU history.

The Schmidt family donation helped FAU break ground on a state of the art, $40 million dollar facility that opened in December of 2021. The Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence is home to over 5,000 square feet of football suites and lounges, as well as a roughly 12,000 square foot weight room. The facility opens directly to the practice fields on one end and leads out to their 30,000-seat stadium on the other. 

With the move to the American Athletic Conference this year, FAU will be bringing in more money and will have even bigger matchups on their schedule. The conference realignment, coupled with the Owls final four run on the hardwood will continue to increase funding and notoriety for the school’s quickly growing athletic department. 

With a new coach, new conference, and new additions, the Owls are poised to continue their upward trajectory. FAU has brought in several talented Power-Five transfers including QB Casey Thompson from Nebraska, LB Desmond Tisdol from Auburn, and TE Khalil Brantley from Miami. In addition to the portal, FAU brought in a solid 2023 recruiting class loaded with South Florida talent. Most notably, the Owls landed the top two running backs from St Thomas Aquinas along with DBs Antonio Smith out of Gulliver and Booker T. Washington’s Fabian Scott.

While it’s easy to immediately look at all the new additions that made their way to Boca Raton this offseason, you can’t overlook what the Owls have returning from last season. FAU is returning a ton of production on the offensive side of the ball including talented WR LaJohntay Webster and a three headed monster of proven RBs. This will all be behind an experienced and physical offensive line that the Owls will look to lean on. 

FAU struggled on the defensive side of the ball last season, allowing nearly 40 points per game, but should be much improved in 2023. The Owls bring back almost everyone from last season’s young core and get inside linebacker Eddie Williams back healthy after he missed a big part of the 2022 season. The DB group is young, but talented, and will be led by last season’s leading tackler Armani-Eli Adams at safety and Smoke Mungin at corner. The Owls also boast one of the best defensive tackle duos in the conference.

After taking a small step back under Willie Taggart, the Owls have set themselves up to take a massive leap forward in 2023 and beyond. FAU has fully bought into their athletic programs and brought in an experienced winner as head coach. Tom Herman and the influx of talent have arrived at the perfect time to maximize the school’s move to the AAC and continue building the program Howard Schnellenberger envisioned nearly 25 years ago.