Breaking Auburn football rumors: Is Willie Taggart of Western Kentucky an candidate?

Updated 12/3/2012 3:40pm ET

A new name is being heavily discussed today for the Auburn football head coaching job: Willie Taggart.

The following profile on Haggart breaks down his chances for the job at Auburn:

Record: 15-17 in three seasons at WKU

Salary: ~$475,000 (signed through Jan. 1, 2016)

Buyout: $450,000

Coaching background: head coach at Western Kentucky (2010-), assistant at Stanford (2007-09), Western Kentucky (1999-06)

Alma Mater: Western Kentucky, 1998

The Good: Taggart learned the trade under two of the brightest coaches alive - Jack and Jim Harbaugh - and has made WKU one the nation's most intriguing up-and-coming programs in short order. His relative youth makes him a valuable recruiter. He's unusually energetic and hungry.

The Bad: He's coaching in a second-tier league and has little in the way of meaningful experience. Taggart has few ties to the SEC. Though he recruits Florida heavily, Taggart rarely has been in position to land coveted prospects. He's an offensive guy, but the Hilltoppers' defense is the primary reason behind their rise to regional/national prominence.

Bio: Taggart, 36, was an outstanding Division I-AA quarterback for the Hilltoppers. He was a four-year starter. Taggart's coaching reputation was boosted in 2007 when he coached running backs at Stanford under Jim Harbaugh, who now coaches the San Francisco 49ers. He returned to Bowling Green prior to the 2010 season and inherited a mess. Two years later, WKU went 7-1 in Sun Belt play. His team has beaten Kentucky and Troy this season - and lost to Louisiana-Monroe in overtime.

Stay tuned to Chat Sports, THE #1 source for Auburn football coaching rumors, in the coming hours for further details.

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