News release from FSU:
FLORIDA STATE MAKES FOOTBALL LEADERSHIP CHANGE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University President Richard McCullough informed head football coach Mike Norvell Sunday afternoon that FSU is making a change in the leadership of its football program, effective immediately. FSU Athletics Hall of Fame member Rick Stockstill has been named interim head coach.
Florida State will immediately begin a national search for its next head coach.
“We have made the decision to change the leadership of our football program,” McCullough said. “We thank Mike Norvell for his commitment and service to Florida State and wish him and his family the very best. We understand the deep passion of Seminole fans and share their high expectations for this program. We are confident in Rick Stockstill’s ability to provide steady leadership during this transition. We will conduct a thorough national search for the program’s next leader, someone who embraces Florida State’s tradition of championship athletics and our standard of excellence.”
Norvell’s seven-year tenure at Florida State ends with a record of 41-39. He led the Seminoles to an ACC championship in 2023 behind a 13-0 record as part of a 19-game winning streak between the 2022 and 2023 seasons that ranks as the third-longest in ACC history. Florida State is 3-5 in 2026 after missing bowl games in each of the previous two seasons.
Stockstill is in his third season on FSU’s football staff after 18 years as the head coach at Middle Tennessee State and 23 years as a Division I assistant. He was the Seminoles’ quarterback from 1977-81 and led FSU to a 10-2 record and No. 5 final ranking in 1980 before directing victories at No. 7 Ohio State, Notre Dame and LSU as a senior.
He finished his career ranked fifth on the program’s career passing touchdowns list and sixth in program history in both passing yards and completions. He was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
President Richard McCullough and Interim Director of Athletics Bruce Warwick will be available to the media today at 6:30 p.m. in the Moore Athletic Center to discuss the announcement.
Florida State’s season continues at Boston College on Saturday. The Seminoles and Eagles are set for a noon start on ACC Network.
