yardbarker
Florida State's decision to part ways with head coach Mike Norvell came after a 36-24 home defeat to Clemson, a game that saw a banner fly over Doak Campbell Stadium demanding his dismissal. On Sunday, the university made it official, terminating Norvell's tenure. Rick Stockstill, who currently serves as director of scouting for the offense and quarterbacked the Seminoles from 1977 to 1981, has been named interim head coach. Stockstill brings previous head coaching experience from Middle Tennessee State, where he compiled a 113-111 record from 2006 to 2023.
Norvell's firing was not entirely unexpected. After a stellar 13-1 campaign in 2023, the program regressed sharply, losing 22 of its last 32 games. This season, Florida State sits at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in ACC play, staring at the possibility of missing a bowl game for the third consecutive year. Despite the recent struggles, the Seminoles—owners of three national championships—remain a prestigious job capable of attracting top-tier candidates.
Top Candidates to Lead the Seminoles
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri Head Coach
Florida State should test the waters with Eli Drinkwitz, who has turned Missouri into a consistent winner. Drinkwitz, now in his seventh season with the Tigers, has guided the program to 10 or more wins in two of the past three years. Missouri signed him to a six-year extension in 2025 after interest from Penn State and others, but the allure of coaching in a less competitive league might appeal to him. The Tigers' high-powered passing attack, which ranks fourth in the SEC at 257.1 yards per game, could inject life into Florida State's offense. However, Drinkwitz has yet to lead Missouri to an SEC Championship Game, and ESPN's Football Power Index gives the 6-2 Tigers just a 0.9% chance to win the conference as of Sunday.
Manny Diaz, Duke Head Coach
Manny Diaz's first head-coaching stint at Miami from 2019 to 2021 ended with a 21-15 record and his dismissal, but he has since rebuilt his reputation at Duke. Over the past three seasons, Diaz has gone 24-11 with the Blue Devils, including an outright ACC title last year—their first since 1962. Duke is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in ACC play this season. While Diaz may be content building something special in Durham, the chance to coach at a football-first school like Florida State could be tempting, especially if he feels overshadowed by Duke's basketball program. His defensive background would also address a major weakness: the Seminoles rank second-to-last in the ACC in yards allowed (424.4 per game) and 15th in points surrendered (28.9 per game).
Glenn Schumann, Georgia Defensive Coordinator
If Florida State wants to shore up its defense, Glenn Schumann is an intriguing option. The 36-year-old has never been a head coach, but he has excelled as Georgia's defensive coordinator since 2022, calling plays for a unit that leads the SEC in scoring defense (14.9 points per game). Under his guidance, the Bulldogs have produced multiple first-round NFL Draft picks, including defensive lineman Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles), safety Malaki Starks (Baltimore Ravens), and linebacker Jalon Walker (Atlanta Falcons). Schumann's pedigree—having worked under Kirby Smart at Georgia and Nick Saban at Alabama—suggests he understands how to build and sustain a championship-caliber program.
Each candidate offers a distinct skill set that could help Florida State reclaim its national prominence. The Seminoles must act swiftly to secure the right leader for this storied program.
Originally reported by yardbarker.