Florida State Retains Coach Mike Norvell Despite Struggles

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University announced on Sunday that head coach Mike Norvell will return for a seventh season despite concerns about his job security following a losing streak earlier this season. The decision follows a meeting among university leadership, including president Richard McCullough and athletic director Michael Alford.

The Seminoles, currently 5-6 and in need of a win this weekend to achieve bowl eligibility, have struggled recently. They have a 7-16 record over the past two seasons, including a dismal 3-13 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. Norvell’s tenure has featured only two winning seasons so far.

Following a disappointing 21-11 loss to North Carolina State on Friday, the pressure mounted on Norvell. However, he expressed a commitment to the program’s future and acknowledged that changes are necessary. “The driving motivation behind this is to make certain that we are doing everything properly to obtain and retain elite players,” Norvell said in a statement. “I love Florida State, and I am fully committed to this program.”

The university’s leadership emphasized the need for improvement, with changes to recruiting and assessment of players to be prioritized. Alford stated, “Our responsibility is to do what gives Florida State the strongest competitive position.”

Norvell’s past successes include leading the team to an ACC championship in 2023 with a perfect 13-0 record. However, a crucial College Football Playoff snub that year, after losing quarterback Jordan Travis to injury, has cast a shadow over the program’s last two seasons.

Despite the recent failures, both Norvell and the university continue to express optimism about the young talent in the program. “There are players in place to build the program around headed into next season,” a source close to the program shared.