Column: Mike Norvell’s coordinator choices might be the final nail in his coffin
tomahawknation.com • • sports
Key Points:
- After a 49-point loss to Notre Dame in November 2024, Florida State's athletic department fired most of head coach Mike Norvell’s staff but kept Norvell due to his recent $84 million contract extension.
- Norvell hired Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator and Tony White as defensive coordinator, bringing in several assistants, but neither coordinator has delivered success, with the team losing eight of its last ten games against Power Four opponents.
- Malzahn retired abruptly before spring practice, forcing Norvell to resume playcalling duties, where the offense has struggled significantly, including poor third-down conversions and questionable play calls.
- Defensively, Tony White's 3-3-5 scheme has failed to stop explosive plays or generate pressure, with poor player execution and coverage busts contributing to nearly 600 yards allowed and no sacks recorded this season.
- Despite initial optimism, Florida State’s coaching changes have not reversed the team’s decline, and Norvell’s job appears increasingly precarious as the Seminoles continue to underperform.
