Florida State Football: Norvell Fired After Week 9 Loss

Florida State University dismissed head coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, November 1.

The decision came immediately after the Seminoles lost to Clemson in Week 9 of the 2026 season. This move makes Florida State the fourth Power 4 program to change its coaching staff during the current season.

The dismissal follows a sharp decline in performance. Norvell led the team to a combined record of 23 wins and 4 losses during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The program finished with a 2-10 record in 2024. The Seminoles posted a 5-7 mark in 2025 and currently hold a 3-4 record in the 2026 campaign.

Reports indicate the university owes Norvell a buyout of approximately $50 million. This financial obligation may influence the speed and scope of the hiring process. The administration is evaluating both internal and external candidates to stabilize the program.

Manny Diaz has emerged as a leading candidate in early discussions. He is the current head coach at Duke University and a 1995 graduate of Florida State. As a Miami native, Diaz maintains deep personal connections to the state and the fan base.

Diaz compiled a 6-2 record this season at Duke. In his first two years with the Blue Devils, he went 18-9 and led the team to the 2025 ACC championship. The Blue Devils secured that title with an overtime victory over Virginia. The Duke administration signed a contract extension with Diaz through 2031 in April.

Before his tenure at Duke, Diaz served as the head coach at the University of Miami from 2019 to 2021. He posted a 21-15 record during those two seasons. He also spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Penn State. One unnamed individual described as a proven program builder at every level of his career is also on the list of potential candidates.

The large buyout payment to Norvell may limit the budget available for other aspects of the search. These funds might have otherwise been used for hiring key coordinators or offering signing bonuses to top candidates. The administration is expected to move quickly to announce a new head coach before the offseason begins in earnest.