Western Kentucky job goes to Stanford running backs coach

Darryl Drake will not be leaving the Bears for Western Kentucky.

The former wide receiver for the Hilltoppers, who began his coaching career with nine seasons at the school, talked to school officials about the job after they contacted him first but never seriously pursued the job and it was given to Stanford running backs coach Willie Taggart this morning. Taggart, another former player at Western Kentucky, will be introduced at the school later today.

Drake worked in the college ranks for two decades, counting stops at Georgia, Baylor and Texas before Lovie Smith hired him as an original member of his staff in 2004. He was an associate head coach for the Longhorns, and served as an offensive coordinator at Baylor.

Drake offered some advice to the school in its search process as did former Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel, who is also a WKU graduate.