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Florida State fires Mike Norvell, defensive coordinator

By Thomson Reuters Nov 1, 2026 | 5:44 PM

By Field Level Media

Nov 01 (Field Level Media) – Florida State president Richard McCullough told ESPN on Sunday that head coach Mike Norvell has been fired.

Norvell, who ​signed an eight-year, $84 million extension after leading the ‌Seminoles to a 13-1 record and the ACC title during the 2023 season, posted a 3-5 record this year and a 41-39 mark during his six-plus seasons in Tallahassee, Fla.

Norvell’s contract reportedly calls for ‌him ​to be paid 85 percent of the ⁠value of his remaining ⁠contract, which means approximately $50.3 million.

According to a report by On3, defensive coordinator Tony White also was fired on Sunday.

Director of scouting Rick Stockstill, 68, has been named interim ​head coach at his alma mater.

Norvell, 45, inherited a sub-.500 program from Willie Taggart in December 2019. After ⁠two losing seasons, Norvell directed Florida ⁠State to a 10-3 record in 2022. That ​earned his first contract extension.

Then Norvell led the Seminoles to ​a 13-0 record through the ACC championship game in ‌2023, but the College Football Playoff committee denied Florida State a spot in the four-team CFP because standout quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a severe leg injury in mid-November.

The shorthanded ⁠Seminoles suffered a 63-3 Orange Bowl loss to Georgia and Norvell’s program never appeared to recover.

Florida State opened the 2024 season at ⁠No. 10 in ‌the Associated Press Top 25, but dropped ⁠out of the poll after losing its ​first ‌two games and went on to a ​2-10 record. The ⁠Seminoles finished 5-7 last year and sit 3-5 this season – including consecutive losses to Louisville, then-No. 3 Miami and Clemson to close out his reign.

Stockstill went 113-111 in 18 seasons (2006-23) as Middle Tennessee’s head coach.

The Seminoles visit Boston College on ​Saturday.

(–Field Level Media)