Florida State has its next football coach. Here’s who the Seminoles have hired

Jason Dill

The Florida State Seminoles have their next head coach.

According to ESPN reports, FSU is hiring Memphis coach Mike Norvell. The school has not confirmed the reports but called for a noon Sunday press conference to announce its new head coach.

Norvell guided the Tigers to three consecutive American Athletic Conference championship games in his four seasons.

Norvell takes over from Odell Haggins, who served as FSU’s interim coach following Willie Taggart’s dismissal on Nov. 3. The Seminoles fired Taggart less than two years into the job and owe him roughly $18 million, though that buyout could be complicated due to Taggart and FSU never signing a formal contract, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Norvell is 0-3 in bowl games and has never been a head coach at a Power 5 school, but did rack up a 38-15 record during his four seasons at Memphis.

Norvell’s Tigers lost four times to UCF during the past two seasons, including two AAC title games. Saturday’s AAC title win over Cincinnati was the program’s first outright conference title in 50 years, and locked up an at-large berth into the Cotton Bowl.

The 38-year-old has developed Memphis into a top offensive unit in the country each season he’s been there. The Tigers have averaged more than 40 points per game the past three seasons and they finished in the top 15 in the country for scoring offense in all four of Norvell’s seasons.

Norvell was also attached to the Ole Miss opening, before choosing FSU. The Seminoles last won a national title in 2013 and were in the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014, but have not made any appearances since. Jimbo Fisher took over the program from the legendary Bobby Bowden, before jetting for Texas A&M during the 2017 season. Haggins filled the interim role until Taggart was hired, and returned to that role following Taggart’s firing the day after a loss to the University of Miami.

Taggart was dismissed just 21 games into his tenure.

FSU is 6-6 this season and bowl eligible.