TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State fired head football coach Mike Norvell on Sunday, one day after the Seminoles fell 36-24 to Clemson at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee and slipped to 3-5 on the season.
University President Richard McCullough announced the move in a written statement and named Rick Stockstill interim head coach. Stockstill, a former Seminole quarterback in the school’s Hall of Fame and a past head coach at Middle Tennessee State, had been working on Norvell’s staff as director of scouting. McCullough said the university will run a national search for a permanent coach.
The president made the announcement himself because Florida State has no athletic director right now. Mike Alford was fired in September and the job has not been filled.
Norvell leaves with a 41-39 record over six-plus seasons and a 23-30 mark in ACC games. The Clemson game was the third straight loss for the Seminoles, following defeats against Louisville and Miami, and their 17th loss in the last 21 conference games. His buyout will cost the school more than $50 million.
His tenure peaked in 2023, when Florida State finished the regular season unbeaten and won the ACC but was left out of the four-team College Football Playoff after quarterback Jordan Travis broke his leg. The program then dropped to 2-10 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025.
Norvell came to Tallahassee from Memphis and went 3-6 in his first season in 2020. Florida State had winning records only in 2022 and 2023 under him.
With four regular-season games left, Florida State must win three to become bowl eligible. Stockstill’s first game in charge is Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon at Boston College.
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