Coaching Candidates to Replace Mike Norvell at Florida State

Florida State fired coach Mike Norvell on Sunday. Norvell’s firing comes a day after the Seminoles lost 36-24 to Clemson, dropping the team’s record to 3-5. Norvell went 41-39 in Tallahassee, which included an ACC Championship and 13-0 record in the regular season in 2023. However, since that point, Florida State is just 10-22 and has not won a road game since the ‘23 campaign.

Florida State will pay a massive buyout to Norvell, as he’s reportedly owed over $50 million. Former Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill will work as the team’s interim coach for the remainder of ‘26. The Seminoles play at Boston College in Week 10, followed by a road trip to Pitt on Nov. 13.

Who could replace Norvell at Florida State? Here are a few names to watch in the search:

Coaching Candidates to Replace Mike Norvell at Florida State

Blake Baker, Defensive Coordinator, LSU
Baker has no experience as a head coach, but he’s considered one of the top defensive coordinators in college football. After Week 9, LSU’s defense ranks second in the SEC in fewest points allowed and is fourth nationally in fewest yards per play (4.3). The Texas native has previous ACC experience from a two-year run as Miami’s defensive coordinator (2019-20).

Jeff Brohm, Head Coach, Louisville
Brohm has a good gig at his alma mater, but Florida State is one of the best jobs in the ACC and among the top 10-15 in college football. He’s 33-15 with the Cardinals and won at least nine games every year from 2023-25.

Manny Diaz, Head Coach, Duke
Diaz has ties to Florida State as a graduate and former assistant. He’s 24-11 over three years at Duke and previously went 21-15 as the head coach at Miami from 2019-21.

Jake Dickert, Head Coach, Wake Forest
Considering Dickert’s success at Washington State (23-20) and now Wake Forest (16-5), any open job at the power conference level could feature his name in the rumor mill. The Wisconsin native has thrived at getting the most out of his rosters and adapting to the transfer portal era. Dickert has a good thing going now at Wake Forest, but Florida State is one of the top jobs in the ACC.

Kenny Dillingham, Head Coach, Arizona State
Arizona State is Dillingham’s alma mater, but he coached as an assistant at Florida State from 2020-21 and is considered one of the nation’s rising stars. Dillingham is 26-21 over three years with the Sun Devils and guided the program to a Big 12 title in ‘23.

Eli Drinkwitz, Head Coach, Missouri
Drinkwitz makes just over $10 million a season at Missouri, so Florida State would have to pay big to pull him away from Columbia. Although Drinkwitz has a good thing going with the Tigers with a 52-31 record, the ACC provides an easier path to conference titles and contending for the national championship.

Jason Eck, Head Coach, New Mexico
Eck is considered one of college football’s top rising stars in the Group of 6 coaching ranks. The former Wisconsin offensive lineman went 21-15 at Idaho from 2022-24 and is 16-5 through two years at New Mexico.

Jimbo Fisher, Former Florida State Head Coach
There were plenty of hard feelings from the Florida State fan base and Fisher following his departure to Texas A&M late in the ‘17 season. However, he did go 83-23 in Tallahassee and won the ‘13 national title. That previous success has some wanting a return, but a reunion seems unlikely.

PJ Fleck, Head Coach, Minnesota
Fleck has been a consistent winner at Minnesota with a 71-47 record. From 2021-25, the Golden Gophers won at least eight games in four of those seasons. Is Fleck interested in making the move to a job with more resources at one of the top programs in the ACC?

Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator, Indiana
Haines is one of college football’s top defensive coordinators and was instrumental to Indiana’s national championship run last season. The Ohio native has no head-coaching experience but gained valuable experience in the region while working under Curt Cignetti at James Madison. Over Indiana’s nine games in ‘26, the defense has allowed more than 20 points just once (Northwestern).

Charles Huff, Head Coach, Memphis
Expect Huff’s name to emerge in the rumor mill for most power conference jobs this coaching cycle. He’s directed Memphis to a 7-2 record in his first year and has the Tigers in the hunt for the American Conference title. He previously guided Marshall to a 32-20 record from 2021-24 and finished 7-5 at Southern Miss last year. Huff’s ability to recruit and quickly rebuild a team could be intriguing in this search.

Rhett Lashlee, Head Coach, SMU
Lashlee is 43-18 at SMU and guided the program to an appearance in the College Football Playoff in 2024. Although Lashlee has a good thing going in Dallas, Florida State is a step up the job hierarchy in the ACC. He also worked in the state of Florida during a stint as Miami’s offensive coordinator from 2020-21.

Glenn Schumann, Defensive Coordinator, Georgia
Schumann has worked in Athens since 2016 and held a coordinator title since ‘19. Although the Georgia native has no head-coaching experience, he’s considered one of the top assistant coaches in the nation and certainly has the experience in the footprint where Florida State would need to recruit.

Lance Taylor, Head Coach, Western Michigan
Taylor is one of college football’s rising stars in the head-coaching ranks and seems primed to run his own power conference program soon. Taylor’s name recently popped up in the Maryland and NC State searches and could for this opening in Tallahassee as well. The former Alabama receiver is 26-22 over four seasons at Western Michigan, including a 10-4 record with a MAC title last year. Taylor has also garnered a wealth of experience as an assistant from stops at Notre Dame, Louisville, Stanford and in the NFL with the Jets and Panthers.

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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.