Tallahassee, FL (Sports Network) - Florida A&M University named Earl Holmes as its new head football coach Friday.
Holmes' contract, which is for four years with an annual salary of $200,000, still needs to be approved by the FAMU board of trustees.
Holmes had been the defensive coordinator for the Rattlers the last two years and served as the team's interim coach for the final two games of this past season after Joe Taylor stepped down on Nov. 8 during his fifth season with the school.
The Rattlers went 1-1 under Holmes and finished the season with a 4-7 record.
"We are excited about the new era of FAMU football under the leadership of Earl," Florida A&M director of athletics Derek Horne said. "He has done an awesome job of transitioning immediately to acting coach and maintaining the program through this crucial recruiting period. We look forward to his dedicated efforts in this next level of leadership."
Holmes was a linebacker for the Rattlers from 1992-95 and is the school's all- time leading tackler with 509.
He was then taken in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a 10-year career in the league, also playing with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.
*Photo Courtesy of Florida A&M Athletics