After Clemson loss, Florida State fires Mike Norvell despite hefty buyout

Norvell’s tenure ends

Florida State announced Sunday that Norvell was out as head coach. His six-plus years in charge included a high point in 2023, when the Seminoles came close to reaching the College Football Playoff.

The account says a two-score home defeat to a struggling Clemson team proved decisive. Norvell’s large buyout had given him extra time, but the loss marked the end of his tenure.

A pivotal successor search

The school must now choose a coach who can strengthen a program facing challenges in the sport’s changing landscape. Florida State is described as short on money compared with some rivals and excluded from the Big Ten and SEC after years of internal turmoil.

The article also notes the school lacks a permanent athletic director. It argues that another unsuccessful hire could seriously damage a program with a long history.

Candidates for the job

The writer says Florida State should look for either a head coach with demonstrated success building a program in the transfer portal era or an energetic, rising coordinator. The listed possibilities include JMU and UCLA coach Chesney, Wake Forest’s Dickert, Kentucky offensive coordinator Stein and Arizona State coach Dillingham.

Chesney is praised for winning at Holy Cross, James Madison and UCLA. Dickert is credited with success at Washington State and Wake Forest, while Stein is noted for his offensive work at Oregon, UTSA and Kentucky. Dillingham previously served as Florida State’s offensive coordinator in 2020-21 and later led Arizona State close to the CFP semifinals.

The article also names Matt Entz, Blake Baker, Rhett Lashlee, Manny Diaz and Mike Shanahan as honorable mentions. It cautions that some candidates may be difficult to lure from their current situations.