By: Lloydrica Hudson, Sports Editor

Florida State fired head football coach Mike Norvell on Nov. 1 following a 36-24 home loss to Clemson that dropped the Seminoles to 3-5.

Norvell finished his seven seasons at FSU with a 41-39 record. The school faces a buyout of roughly $50 million, according to The Associated Press.

Offensive analyst Rick Stockstill, a former head coach at Middle Tennessee, was named interim head coach.

The decision came as FSU  continued to struggle after winning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship in 2023. The Seminoles went 10-22 from the start of the 2024 season through Norvell’s final game.

University President Richard McCullough said the change was necessary for the program’s future.

“This is a big business decision,” McCullough said, according to ESPN. “It’s the future, the fate of Florida State football.”

Norvell’s tenure included 19 consecutive victories stretching from the middle of the 2022 season through the 2023 ACC championship game. FSU reached 13-0 in 2023 before being left out of the College Football Playoffs.

The program struggled to maintain that success. This season, FSU went 1-5 against teams from the four major conferences before Norvell’s dismissal. The Seminoles also had not beaten Miami, Florida or Clemson since 2023, according to AP.

FSU also dismissed defensive coordinator Tony White and safeties coach Evan Cooper. Linebackers coach Ernie Sims will serve as interim defensive coordinator.

McCullough hired Daniel Parker of Parker Executive Search to lead searches for a permanent head coach and athletic director.

Former FSU player Jaheim Bell credited Norvell with changing his life on and off the field in a Facebook post. Bell thanked Norvell for believing in him and supporting his family. “I want you to know that your impact on me goes far beyond football,” Bell wrote. He also recalled Norvell pushing him during practice, saying it showed how much the coach cared about helping him become the best version of himself.

Former FSU quarterback Jameis Winston has joined the Seminole Boosters board of directors, the organization announced Nov. 4. Rob Murphy and Jeremy Cloud also joined the board, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Winston won the Heisman Trophy in 2013 and led the Seminoles to a national championship that season. His addition comes as FSU works to increase financial support for its football program following Norvell’s dismissal.