It is a weird time to be a Nole. Seriously. After a 2025 season that saw the team finish 5-7—a year that started with a massive high against Alabama only to crumble into a winless road record—the Florida State football coaching staff is looking less like a group of familiar faces and more like a high-stakes experiment.
Mike Norvell is staying. That much we know. But the leash is short. Fans were practically calling for his head after that 40-21 loss to Florida to cap off the year. It’s been a rough stretch. Four losing seasons in six years is not exactly the "standard" people talk about in Tallahassee. So, Norvell did what he had to do: he blew the whole thing up.
If you look at the sidelines during the 2026 spring game, you’re going to need a program just to identify the coaches. It’s basically a total renovation of the house while the foundation is still shaking.
The Big Names: Gus Malzahn and Tony White
The biggest shocker for many was the arrival of Gus Malzahn as the offensive coordinator. You’ve probably heard his name a thousand times. He’s the guy who beat Saban, won a national title as a coordinator at Auburn, and most recently ran the show at UCF. Honestly, it’s a bit of a "power move" for Norvell to bring in a guy with that much head coaching experience.
Malzahn took over in 2025, but the offense still felt... clunky. They only put up 11 points against NC State late last year. That’s just not going to cut it in 2026.
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On the other side of the ball, Tony White is back as the defensive coordinator. There was a lot of smoke about him leaving for the UCLA head coaching job or maybe heading back to Nebraska, but that didn’t happen. White runs that funky 3-3-5 defense that can be a nightmare to prepare for, but it also got gashed at times last season. Keeping him around provides some continuity, which is something this staff desperately needs right now.
A Massive Turnover in the Position Rooms
This is where things get really busy. The Florida State football coaching staff has seen a revolving door of exits and entries since December.
- Kam Martin is the new running backs coach. He comes from Tulsa and is widely considered a "relentless" recruiter. He replaces David Johnson, who headed off to Arkansas.
- Nick Williams joined as the "Edges Coach and Pass-Rushing Specialist." Norvell grabbed him from Syracuse. The guy is a recruiting machine in South Georgia, which is a backyard FSU has to win.
- Blue Adams is the new man in charge of the cornerbacks. He’s a former Michigan State assistant and has a massive job ahead of him replacing Patrick Surtain Sr., who was let go after the 2025 season.
- Adam Scheier was recently announced as the new special teams coordinator. He’s a 25-year veteran of the craft. Honestly, special teams have been a disaster at FSU lately, so this might be the most underrated hire of the bunch.
Then you have the promotions. Ernie Sims, a name FSU fans know by heart, is stepping up as the linebackers coach. He’s taking over for John Papuchis, who took off for Missouri. To help Sims out, Norvell went out and got Jake Rothschiller from Minot State to be the assistant linebackers coach. It’s a bit of an "off the map" hire, but Rothschiller has experience in Tony White's defensive system from their time together at New Mexico.
The Front Office Makeover
It isn’t just about who is wearing the headset on Saturdays. The program is trying to act more like an NFL front office. They hired John Garrett as the Deputy Athletics Director and General Manager of Player Personnel.
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Why does this matter?
Basically, the "general manager" role is becoming a necessity in the NIL and transfer portal era. Garrett is supposed to handle the roster construction and scouting so Norvell can focus on actually coaching the team. It’s a transformational step, or at least that’s what AD Michael Alford is calling it. They also brought in Taylor Edwards for a leadership role in the front office on New Year’s Day.
What it means for the 2026 Season
The pressure is massive. Norvell has had two seasons in a row that left people scratching their heads. The 2024 season was a 2-10 nightmare, and 2025 was only a marginal improvement at 5-7.
The Florida State football coaching staff for 2026 is built on "big names" and "elite recruiters." But will they mesh? You’ve got Gus Malzahn’s ego and experience next to Norvell’s play-calling tendencies. You’ve got a defense that is trying to find its identity under Tony White.
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One thing is certain: there are no more excuses.
The staff has been overhauled. The front office has been restructured. The transfer portal has brought in names like linebacker Devin Hightower and JUCO standout Chris Thomas. If this group can't get FSU back to a bowl game and a winning record in 2026, the next coaching staff search will be for a new head man, not just assistants.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you’re trying to keep track of this whirlwind, keep your eyes on the spring practice reports.
- Watch the Quarterbacks: Austin Tucker was promoted to QBs coach after Brendan Bognar left for Missouri. See how the chemistry develops between Tucker, Malzahn, and the projected starter.
- Monitor the "Edge" Production: Nick Williams was brought in specifically to fix the pass rush. If FSU isn't getting to the quarterback in the spring game, that’s a red flag.
- Follow the Transfer Portal Visits: The staff is currently hosting several key defensive targets. Winning these battles in January is the only way the 2026 staff survives November.
The roster is talented, but as we saw last year, talent without cohesive coaching is just a recipe for a 5-7 record. 2026 is the year we find out if Mike Norvell’s "New Look" staff is a masterstroke or a final gasp.