Blog Article
Florida State Fires Mike Norvell 12 Hours After Losing to Clemson, Eats a $50 Million Buyout
Norvell won the ACC three years ago. Since then, he’s gone 10-22, and Florida State decided it couldn’t wait any longer.
Florida State fired Mike Norvell on Sunday.
Roughly 12 hours earlier, Clemson walked into Doak Campbell Stadium and won 36-24. That dropped the Seminoles to 3-5. Defensive coordinator Tony White and safeties coach Evan Cooper are out, too, and Rick Stockstill takes over as interim head coach.
Nobody in Tallahassee should be surprised.
The banner flew first.
Before kickoff Saturday, a plane circled the stadium pulling a “Fire Mike Norvell” banner.
Dabo Swinney defended him afterward. That’s a tough spot for a coach, when the guy who just beat you is the one sticking up for you. By Sunday afternoon, it didn’t matter.
The fans got there first. The school just made it official.
Remember 2023?
Florida State does, and that’s the problem.
Norvell went 13-1 that season, ran the table in the regular season, and won the ACC. The Seminoles won 19 straight games in that stretch, and Florida State rewarded him with a new contract. That contract is why he’s still getting paid.
Since the start of 2024, Norvell is 10-22.
The bill comes due.
Norvell’s buyout is 85% of what’s left on his deal, roughly $50 million.
That’s more than Maryland, NC State, and Baylor owe Mike Locksley, Dave Doeren, and Dave Aranda combined. Florida State fired its athletic director in September, so the Seminoles are paying for a coaching search without a permanent AD to run it. Somebody in the president’s office better be good at interviews.
Norvell finishes 41-39 in Tallahassee.
The resume, in short.
Here’s what Florida State got for the money:
- An undefeated regular season and an ACC title in 2023
- A loss to an FCS team, Jacksonville State, in 2021
- A 2-10 season in 2024
- A 3-5 start in 2026, with a plane circling overhead
One great year.
Six other ones.
What’s next?
Florida State’s job is now the fourth Power Four opening of the season, joining Maryland, NC State, and Baylor.
It’s a big job with a big budget and a fan base that just watched its school pay $50 million to start over. The next coach won’t get a 2023 to buy him time. He’ll get two years, maybe three, and a banner company on speed dial.
Norvell made it to November.
He didn’t make it past the first day.
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