Updated January 2024
Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes named James Colzie III the 19th head football coach at Florida A&M University, January 27, 2024.
Colzie has worked and played for some of the best coaches in the business, including Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews, Romeo Crennel, Emmitt Thomas, Blake Nill, and Kevin Steele. His career has included stops at elite Division I, Division II, U-Sport, and NJCAA football programs around the Southeast, Midwest, and Canada. As a collegiate player and coach, he has been a part of four national championships and seven conference titles.
Colzie was elevated to head coach after serving as the interim head coach following the departure of Willie Simmons. Colzie joined Florida A&M ahead of the 2022 season, where he led the cornerbacks and contributed to a defense that ranked in the top 25 in six categories.
After the 2022 campaign, Colzie was promoted to assistant head coach while coaching the cornerbacks again. Leading the cornerbacks, the Rattlers saw two selected to the All-SWAC teams, Kendall Bohler and Eric Smith. Colzie was again part of one of the nation's best defenses, ranking top 25 in 12 categories. Colzie was also part of a historic Rattlers team that won its first-ever SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl with a 12-1 record.
Before FAMU
In 2022, Colzie left his post as the head football coach at Saint Mary’s University (Canada) with an overall record of 23-19. Saint Mary’s played for two AUS Championships (2018 and 2019) and posted a conference-best 7-1 record during the 2018 season. In total, Colzie posted six All-Canadians (defensive back DeAndre Smith (2016), defensive back Antoine Lyte-Myers (2019), defensive back Justin Julien (2021), returner Johnny King, returner Justin Julien (2021), defensive end Jadarius Caesar (2017), and linebacker Brad Herbst (2018)). He developed and coached four CFL draft picks, starting in 2018 with defensive lineman Tresor Mafuta (4th round to Saskatchewan), in 2021 with linebacker Jarek Richards (4th round to Hamilton) and offensive lineman Peter Kourtis (5th round to Edmonton), and defensive back Adrian Greene (4th round to BC). During Colzie’s time at Saint Mary’s, he also had four Player of the Year’s (two being Defensive Player of the Year) and a final total of twenty All-Conference players while serving as the head football coach.
Before becoming head coach at Saint Mary's, Colzie spent two seasons at the University of British Columbia as their defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In 2015, Colzie helped the Thunderbirds win their first Vanier Cup Championship since 1997. The Thunderbirds' defense finished ranked 2nd in the Canada West Conference in rushing defense, pass defense, and scoring defense.
Before the University of British Columbia, Colzie spent one season at Coffeyville. He coached 2nd Team All-American cornerback Jamarcus King, three 1st Team All-Jayhawk selections at both cornerback positions in Jalen Roundtree, King, and punt returner Darnell Walker Jr. He coached 2nd Team All-Conference safety Mikal Cromartie and two honorable selections in safety Devonte Foster and kicker Michael Pursley. The defense at Coffeyville finished 1st in the nation with seven interceptions for touchdowns and 1st in the nation with ten total defensive touchdowns and 3rd down percentage (22%).
In 2013, Colzie was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Simon Fraser University. There, he took over a defense that had finished dead last in all major conference defensive categories during the 2012 season, and under his defense, they finished second in pass defense, second in opponents 1st down, third in third down, and fourth down conversions. Colzie had three 1st Team All-Conference players and an All-Region player.
From 2007 to 2012, Colzie had success in multiple Division II football programs where he coached six All-Americans and ten All-Conference players. In three of those years, his special teams were ranked first in the nation in punt return yards and touchdowns. In 2012, Colzie was the recruiting coordinator, special teams coordinator, and defensive backs coach at Southern Arkansas, where he coached All-American Don Unamba at boundary corner. From 2008 to 2011, Colzie coached at the University of West Georgia and held numerous titles such as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and defensive backs coach while developing nine All Gulf-South Conference Players and one All-American at punt returner in 2012. In 2007, Coach Colzie was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Valdosta State University, where the team won the Division II National Championship. That same year, the defense led the nation in interceptions, and his special teams led the nation in touchdowns. During that year, Colzie had two All-Americans and three All-Conference selections.
During the 2004-2006 seasons, Coach Colzie worked as a Defensive Graduate Assistant at Florida State, where he coached cornerbacks that included first-round picks Antonio Cromartie (2006), Patrick Robinson (2010), and second-round pick Bryant McFadden (2005).
James Colzie III began his coaching career in 2000 at Florida International University, where he coached the cornerbacks and was also the co-special teams coordinator working with returners. Before Florida International, in his playing days, he enjoyed the success of being a two-sport athlete at Florida State University. He played from 1993-1997 on the football team and lettered on the baseball team in 1994. Colzie was part of the Florida State 1993 National Championship team and three ACC Championship teams.
Coaching History Year-by-Year
Year Team Position Record Postseason/Conference Champs
2023 Florida A&M Assistant Head Coach/DBs 12-1* Celebration Bowl, W/SWAC Champs
2022 Florida A&M Defensive Backs 9-2
2021 Saint Mary’s (CAN) Head Coach 1-5
2020 Saint Mary’s (CAN) Head Coach 0-0 Season Cancelled due to COVID-19
2019 Saint Mary’s (CAN) Head Coach 3-5
2018 Saint Mary’s (CAN) Head Coach 7-1 Loney Bowl, L
2017 Saint Mary’s (CAN) Head Coach 5-3 Loney Bowl, L
2016 Saint Mary’s (CAN) Head Coach 2-6
2015 British Columbia (CAN)Defensive Coord./DBs 6-2^ Vanier Cup, W
2014 Coffeyville CC Special Teams/Recruit Coord./DBs 9-3
2013 Simon Fraser (CAN) Defensive Coord./DBs 3-7
2012 Southern Arkansas Special Teams/Recruit Coord./DBs 8-3
2011 West Georgia Asst. Head Coach/Def. Coord 6-4
2010 West Georgia Asst. Head Coach/Def. Coord 3-7
2009 West Georgia Asst. Head Coach/Def. Coord 1-9
2008 West Georgia Asst. Head Coach/Def. Coord 0-10
2007 Valdosta State Special Teams Coord./DBs 13-1% NCAA Division II Champions
2006 Florida State Graduate Assistant 7-6 Emerald Bowl, W
2005 Florida State Graduate Assistant 8-5 Orange Bowl, L/ACC Champs
2004 Florida State Graduate Assistant 9-3 Gator Bowl, W
2003 FIU Asst. Special Teams Coord./DBs 2-10
2002 FIU Asst. Special Teams Coord./DBs 5-6
* HBCU National Champions
^ U Sports National Champions
% NCAA Division II National Champions
