Florida State fires Mike Norvell in $50.3 million decision to end polarizing tenure

The Mike Norvell domino has finally fallen at Florida State.Norvell, who’d coached the Seminoles since 2020 and who has been on the hot seat for over a season, was fired Sunday and informed the team of his exit in the afternoon, according to ESPN.Florida State fell to Clemson 36-24 on Saturday in what became Norvell’s final game with the program, dropping to 3-5 on the season and veering closer to missing a bowl game for a third consecutive year.He’ll be owed $50.3 million, the outlet added, and Rick Stockstill, a former Middle Tennessee head coach and currently an offensive analyst for the Seminoles, will serve as their interim coach for the remainder of the season.“We have made the decision to change the leadership of our football program,” FSU president Richard McCullough said in a statement, according to ESPN.“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.”The defeat Saturday will serve as the final chapter in a Florida State stint that also featured plenty of highs for Novell.In 2023, the Seminoles went undefeated during the regular season and won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, but because of Jordan Travis’ season-ending injury, they were controversially left out of the College Football Playoff field.Florida State went 7-17 across the next two seasons entering 2026.Novell, 45, had previously served as the head coach of Memphis for four years before arriving at FSU, and after he was on the hot seat, rumors and reports of Jimbo Fisher wanting a second stint with the Seminoles in the event ...