Many conventional faculty soccer powers have fired their head coaches this season.
On Oct. 12, the Penn State Nittany Lions fired head coach James Franklin (who has since been employed by the Virginia Tech Hokies). Two weeks later, the LSU Tigers moved on from head coach Brian Kelly.
After falling to 5-6, it is simple to see why the Florida State Seminoles could be tempted to do the identical, however they are not going to. On Sunday, college president Richard McCullough confirmed that this system plans to provide head coach Mike Norvell yet one more likelihood. He should take advantage of it.
Richard McCullough explains why Florida State is retaining Mike Norvell in 2026
“Coach Norvell embraces our assist in that course of and agrees that success should be achieved. He continues to exhibit an unwavering perception on this program’s future, and so will we,” McCullough mentioned in a press release, via ESPN’s Andrea Adelson. “This resolution displays a unified dedication to competing within the quickly evolving panorama of faculty soccer, whereas sustaining continuity throughout the program.”
To not point out, he desires to keep away from paying the coach his buyout. If Florida State fires Norvell this season, it owes him a whopping $54M, per Adelson. That may be the second-largest buyout in faculty soccer historical past, behind that of former Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher, who was paid $76.8M after being fired in November 2023, per CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno.
That mentioned, many Florida State followers might really feel coughing up the cash would’ve been worthwhile. He has had a a lot much less profitable tenure in Tallahassee than Franklin had in Completely happy Valley and Kelly had in Baton Rouge.
In six seasons with the Seminoles, Norvell has compiled a 38-33 file. This included a disastrous 2024, once they went 2-10, their worst season since 1974. Franklin went 104-45 in 12 seasons at Penn State, guiding the Nittany Lions to the Faculty Soccer Playoff in 2024. Kelly went 34-14 in 4 seasons with LSU, profitable 10 or extra video games twice.
Florida State nearly made the four-team CFP underneath Norvell in 2023. The Seminoles began 13-0 and gained the ACC Championship Recreation, however misplaced the final seed to the Alabama Crimson Tide. This was due partly to beginning quarterback Jordan Travis struggling a damaged leg in a win in opposition to North Alabama.
After a 3-0 begin this season, it regarded like Florida State had re-entered the CFP dialog. Nonetheless, these hopes have evaporated amid a 2-6 skid, which included a 21-11 loss to the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Friday. Requested in his postgame news conference if his staff has met expectations this season, the coach admitted it hasn’t.
No matter made Norvell profitable in 2023, he should discover it. The coach might not get one other likelihood if he flops in 2026, particularly when extra completed coaches have already been canned.
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