FSU coach Mike Norvell tests positive for COVID-19

Iliana Limón Romero, Orlando Sentinel
·2 min read

Florida State football coach Mike Norvell tested positive for COVID-19, is not reporting any symptoms and is in quarantine, the Seminoles athletic department announced Saturday.

FSU has a bye this week and deputy head coach Chris Thomsen will take over preparing the Seminoles for a game at Miami on Sept. 26.

“In our most recent round of COVID testing yesterday, I received a positive result after being negative in our previous two tests this week,” Norvell stated in an FSU news release. "My wife and daughter were tested this morning with negative results but are quarantining.

“My result was surprising to me, but we have prepared for a potential positive result among anyone in our program and we will put that plan in place while I am away. I will remain involved remotely as much as possible to help our team continue to prepare.

"Deputy head coach Chris Thomsen will handle in-person head coaching duties until I am able to return. I’m grateful to the administration, players and staff for their commitment to the protocols we have in place, which have helped us limit contact with others and allowed us to continue moving forward.”

It is unclear whether Norvell will go through any follow-up testing that could potentially indicate whether he had registered a false positive result and could lead to him returning to in-person coaching.

FSU athletics director David Coburn stated the school saw no reason to consider canceling or postponing the Seminoles' next game against the rival Hurricanes.

“This is unfortunate, but luckily coach is feeling fine,” Coburn said in a news release. “We are proceeding with our COVID protocols as we would with any other case. Coach is isolated, and university tracing staff is handling the contact tracing as they normally do. We will continue to test staff and student-athletes as we have been. We have communicated with [ACC] Commissioner John Swofford and Miami athletics director Blake James.

"At this point, based on our testing this week, we have no reason to believe that the Miami game is in jeopardy.”

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Iliana Limón Romero at ilimon@orlandosentinel.com.

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