Florida State University fired head football coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following a 3-4 start to the season that included a Week 9 loss to Clemson. The decision makes Florida State the fourth Power 4 program to make a coaching change in the 2026 college football carousel.
Norvell compiled a 23-4 record during a strong two-year stretch in 2022-23, but the Seminoles declined sharply afterward, posting a 2-10 record in 2024, 5-7 in 2025, and 3-4 in 2026. The program reportedly owes Norvell a buyout of approximately $50 million, which could complicate the search for his successor.
Top Candidate Emerges
Duke head coach Manny Diaz has been identified as a leading candidate for the Florida State position. Diaz, a Miami native and 1995 Florida State graduate, is 6-2 with the Blue Devils this season. He went 18-9 in his first two seasons at Duke, leading the team to the 2025 ACC championship with an overtime victory over Virginia in the title game. Diaz signed a contract extension through 2031 in April 2026.
Before Duke, Diaz served as head coach at Miami from 2019 to 2021, posting a 21-15 record, and spent two seasons as Penn State's defensive coordinator. His deep ties to the program and the state of Florida make him an intriguing possibility for the Seminoles.
Additional candidates, described as proven program-builders, are also under consideration, though their identities have not been publicly disclosed.
