SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Willie Taggart of the South Florida Bulls reacts to a call by the officiating crew during the second half against the Syracuse Orange on September 17, 2016 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. South Florida defeats Syracuse 45-20. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Oregon has already interviewed one candidate for their head coach opening

Oregon fired head coach Mark Helfrich earlier this week.

Oregon's coaching search is officially underway.

After parting ways with head coach Mark Helfrich on Tuesday night, Oregon quickly turned around and reportedly interviewed South Florida head coach Willie Taggart on Thursday.

Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens is currently in Texas as a part of the College Football Playoff committee, which is why the meeting took place there. Another interesting part about Taggart being the first interview for Oregon is that he would fulfill the "Rooney Rule" like law that the state of Oregon has about hiring head coaches.

Related: Oregon is reportedly close to hiring a new head coach

Taggart has been an emerging head coaching candidate recently, as he helped lead South Florida to their first 10-win season in program history. That is quite the turnaround from Taggart's first season at South Florida in 2013, where the Bulls where 2-10 that year.

Taggart may be in competition with Western Michigan's P.J. Fleck for the Oregon job. Fleck was rumored as Oregon's top candidate on Friday night, but it appears that he has yet to be officially contacted by the Ducks.

Fleck led Western Michigan to a 13-0 record this season, capped off by winning the MAC title game over Ohio on Friday.