The Florida State Seminoles have struggled to compete in the last couple of years on the football field. In the last two years, the Seminoles have only won seven games combined. It’s clear that something hasn’t been working for them.
Mike Norvell is facing an immense amount of pressure heading into the 2026 season. If he is not able to turn things around, he could be looking for a new job. Florida State is not waiting until next season to make some changes to the coaching staff, however.
The Seminoles have made a decision to switch up something with the coaching staff.
GettyFlorida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell looks on. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Florida State Seminoles Change Up the Front Office
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Seminoles have hired Gabe Fertitta as the new Director of Football Strategy and as an Offensive Assistant Coach. He will have a lot of say in how the Seminoles approach roster building over the next few years.
Fertitta spent last season as the offensive coordinator with Nicholls State. Before that, he was in Tallahassee for three seasons with Florida State as an offensive analyst. He also worked for Louisville in quality control. Now, he will play a big part in Florida State’s offense.
The offense has been a massive issue for the Seminoles over the last few years. They have not been able to score nearly enough points to win critical games in the ACC. Clearly, something needs to be changed when it comes to that side of the ball.
During the 2025 season, the Seminoles averaged 33 points per game. That was good enough for 22nd in the country, but against the best teams in the conference, they struggled to move the ball when they needed to the most. That is why they are bringing Fertitta in.
Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell gestures during a game. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Florida State Seminoles Have to Win Big in Order to Keep Norvell’s job
Norvell seems to have the support of some big boosters around Florida State, which is why he was able to keep his job after the 2025 season. That support might wane if the Seminoles fail to make a significant jump in wins next season. Failing to be bowl-eligible again next year could be a major issue for Norvell’s job security.
The Seminoles are struggling to adapt in the NIL era, and that is an area that Norvell needs to adapt if he is going to continue to be a head coach for Florida State. Florida State has a brutal schedule next season, so it’s going to be hard for them to make a big improvement in terms of a win total.
Fertitta should be able to add some new ideas to the offense to help move the ball more easily, and scheme players open. That is something that the Seminoles have to get better at if they are going to compete for an ACC championship.
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