The Florida State Seminoles wasted little time identifying its next football coach following Sunday’s dismissal of Mike Norvell, turning to a familiar face with deep ties to the program.

The university announced Sunday that Rick Stockstill, a former Seminoles quarterback and longtime college football coach, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Stockstill takes over a Florida State program that has fallen well short of expectations, sitting at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play following Saturday’s 36-24 loss to Clemson at Doak Campbell Stadium.

The defeat proved to be the final straw for Norvell, whose seven-year tenure ended less than three seasons after guiding Florida State to an undefeated regular season and ACC championship in 2023.

For Stockstill, the opportunity represents a return to the sidelines and a chance to stabilize a program where he established his football roots nearly five decades ago.

A Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee in 2019, Stockstill played quarterback for legendary head coach Bobby Bowden from 1977 through 1981.

He helped guide the Seminoles to a 10-2 record and No. 5 national ranking in 1980 before serving as team captain during his senior season in 1981.

Stockstill finished his Florida State playing career with 2,834 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes.

His coaching résumé includes more than four decades of experience, highlighted by an 18-year tenure as head coach at Middle Tennessee State from 2006 through 2023.

During that stretch, Stockstill compiled a 113-111 record, guided the Blue Raiders to 10 bowl appearances and earned conference Coach of the Year honors three times.

One of his most notable victories came in 2022 when Middle Tennessee defeated No. 25 Miami, 45-31, marking the program’s first victory over a nationally ranked opponent.

Before taking over at Middle Tennessee, Stockstill spent time on coaching staffs at Clemson, East Carolina and South Carolina, developing experience as a quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.

His connection to Florida State brought him back to Tallahassee in January 2024 when Norvell hired him as director of scouting for offense.

Now, Stockstill finds himself replacing the same coach who brought him back to his alma mater.

The circumstances surrounding his appointment reflect how dramatically Florida State’s fortunes have changed since its 2023 championship campaign.

Following a 13-1 season that ended with a controversial College Football Playoff exclusion, Florida State collapsed to 2-10 in 2024 before finishing 5-7 in 2025.

Norvell was unable to reverse that trajectory this fall, ultimately finishing his tenure with a 41-39 overall record.

Stockstill inherits a team that must win three of its remaining four games to become bowl eligible.

Florida State travels to Boston College on November 7 before closing its regular season against Pittsburgh, NC State and rival Florida.

While the university begins its search for a permanent head coach, Stockstill’s immediate responsibility will be restoring stability, maintaining the locker room’s focus and attempting to salvage what remains of a disappointing season.

For a former Seminoles captain who experienced the program’s rise under Bowden, the assignment carries significance beyond simply serving as a temporary replacement.

Stockstill now has an opportunity to provide leadership during one of Florida State’s most difficult stretches in recent memory.

And although his tenure may be brief, the challenge facing him is substantial: giving Florida State something positive to build upon before its next era begins.

Source: Yahoo Sports