Florida State University fired head football coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, November 1, 2026, after the Seminoles fell to 3-4 on the season following a loss to Clemson. Norvell had posted a combined 23-4 record in 2022-23 but the program declined sharply, going 2-10 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025. The buyout owed to Norvell is reported to be just over $50 million, which may complicate the search for his successor.
Florida State is considered one of the premier destinations in college football with abundant resources. The coaching search is being closely covered by Noles247, the 247Sports affiliate dedicated to the Seminoles. Their reporting identifies Duke head coach Manny Diaz as a leading candidate. Diaz is 6-2 at Duke this season and has deep ties to the program and the state of Florida. He is a Miami native and a 1995 Florida State graduate. Diaz went 18-9 in his first two seasons at Duke, led the Blue Devils to the 2025 ACC championship with an overtime win over Virginia, and signed a contract extension through 2031 in April. He previously served as head coach at Miami from 2019 to 2021 (21-15 record) and spent two seasons as Penn State's defensive coordinator.
Noles247 indicates several other candidates are under consideration, including a "proven program-builder at every level he's touched," though specific names have not been publicly disclosed. The search is expected to move quickly given the program's stature and the upcoming recruiting calendar.
