Per someone with knowledge of the situation: James Coley has reportedly spoken with FIU's AD about HC job. FSU could not confirm.
— Patrik Nohe/M_Herald (@PatrikNohe_MH) December 20, 2012
In fact, Coach Fisher went as far as to say they had not requested permission, but I'm told that there has been contact.
— Patrik Nohe/M_Herald (@PatrikNohe_MH) December 20, 2012
That's Patrik Nohe, of the Miami Herald, who would know about the goings on at FIU.
Coley, 40, is a Miami native. He spend six years coaching in Miami at Senior and Norland High Schools before moving to LSU in 2003 as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban. From there, he followed Saban to the Miami Dolphins in 2005 as an offensive assistant. After that two-year stint, he was FIU's offensive coordinator for the 2007 season, before taking a position as tight ends coach at Florida State in 2007, also serving as FSU's recruiting coordinator. In 2010, with Jimbo Fisher's promotion to head coach, Coley was promoted to offensive coordinator.
The title, however, was more about a bump in pay than actual control. Fisher still runs his offense, and Coley does not call plays or have authority to overrule Fisher. That has, understandably, led to a bit of a stagnation in his career.
Coley's reputation to this point is based on his charismatic use of twitter and his recruiting, which has been excellent in South Florida.