Florida State University Retains Coach Norvell Despite Struggles

Last month, Florida State University made the decision to keep head coach Mike Norvell after a challenging season that ended with a 5-7 record.

Jameis Winston, a former star quarterback for FSU and now a player for the New York Giants, has shared his thoughts on the current state of the football program he once led to a national championship.

Winston expressed gratitude towards the FSU soccer team for their consistent success through the years. The football team, meanwhile, has recently celebrated its fifth NCAA title, with victories in 2018, 2021, 2023, and the latest in 2025.

During his time at Florida State, Winston was definitely more accustomed to winning than losing. He held an impressive record of 27-1 in college, capped by a national championship win. After completing the 2014 season, he entered the NFL Draft, where he was picked first overall in 2015.

Since Winston’s departure, the FSU football program has had a mixed bag of results, recording 76 wins and 60 losses over the past 11 seasons. Under Coach Norvell, however, the team has struggled, with only two of those years under his guidance resulting in significant improvement.

The Seminoles kicked off their 2025 season with an unexpected win against the University of Alabama, winning their first three games. But then came a tough stretch—four consecutive losses after that initial success.

In recent years, Florida State has not performed well overall, holding a 7-16 record during the last two seasons and failing to secure any road victories. Following the announcement of Norvell’s retention, Florida State’s President Richard McCullough acknowledged the pressing need for improvement within the program.

“Coach Norvell accepts our support in the process and agrees that success must be achieved,” McCullough stated. “He continues to demonstrate unwavering belief in the future of this program, and so do we. This decision reflects a unified commitment to competing in a rapidly changing college football landscape while also maintaining continuity within the program.”