FSU fires coach, pays 47 million

Florida State University fired head football coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, October 25, after a home loss to Clemson.

The termination costs the school approximately 47 million dollars. This amount represents 85 percent of the salary Norvell would have earned through the end of his contract in the 2031 season.

Norvell took the job in 2020. He led the team to a 13-0 record in the 2023 season, which included an ACC championship. The team did not make the College Football Playoff that year.

Performance declined after that season. Florida State finished with a 10-22 record from the start of the 2024 season through the current fall. The team is 1-5 against Power 4 opponents this year.

The Seminoles lost to Clemson 36-24 on Saturday. Florida State was a five-point favorite in that game. The team has not beaten Miami, Florida, or Clemson since the 2023 season.

University President Richard McCullough announced the decision at an evening news conference. He named Rick Stockstill as the interim head coach. Stockstill served as the director of scouting for offense. He was also a quarterback for Florida State from 1977 to 1981 and coached at Middle Tennessee from 2006 to 2023.

McCullough hired Daniel Parker of Parker & Associates to find a permanent replacement. Parker will also lead the search for a new athletic director. Michael Alford was removed from that role on September 14.

McCullough called the firing a business decision necessary to secure the program's future. He stated that he was not seeing the correct trajectory on the field. The Saturday loss to Clemson served as a defining moment in his decision.

Interim athletic director Bruce Warwick said Norvell learned of the decision during the afternoon. He contacted his wife, Maria, and then spoke to the team during a regular meeting. Warwick described Norvell as emotional and passionate about the players' success.

Florida State plays at Boston College on Saturday. The Seminoles hold a 3-5 overall record and a 1-4 conference record. Boston College is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the ACC.